Evaluation of plasma interleukin-8 concentration in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia

Prostate specific antigen [PSA] has been used as a screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer [PC] for many years. Although the introduction of PSA test led to a considerable increase in reported prostate cancer cases, there is still some controversy over the sensitivity and specificity of this marker in distinguishing PC patients from those with benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH], the most common benign prostate condition. An attempt is made to elucidate if the plasma level of Interleukin 8 [IL-8] could be used effectively as a marker for the detection of prostate cancer. Plasma levels of IL-8 and PSA were measured in two groups of 40 BPH and PC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent [ELISA] and radioimmunoassay [RIA] techniques, respectively. In addition IL-8 levels in PC3 and DU145 cell line supernatants were measured by ELISA technique. The concentration of IL-8 in the plasma of PC patients was not significantly higher than the BPH subjects. Although, a correlation between plasma IL-8 concentration and the Gleason score of PC patients was found, no indicated correlation was detected between the concentration of IL-8 or PSA and age of the patients in both groups. DU145 and PC3 cell lines produced and secreted IL-8 in the media. Data of this investigation collectively conclude no correlation between IL-8 concentration in PC and BPH patients