Prostatic Tissue Levels of 43 Trace Elements in Patients with Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of prostate gland is an internationally important health problem in men, particularly in developed countries. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate whether significant changes in the prostatic tissue levels of trace elements exist in the malignantly transformed prostate. Prostatic tissue levels of 43 trace elements were prospectively evaluated in 36 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma and 37 healthy males. Measurements were performed using a combination of non-destructive and destructive methods: instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively. Tissue samples were divided into two portions. One was used for morphological study while the other was intended for trace element analysis. The reliability of difference in the results between normal and cancerous prostate tissues was evaluated by Student’s t-test. It was found that the contents of Ag, Al, Au, B, Be, Br, Ce, Cr, Dy, Er, Fe, Gd, Hg, Li, Mn, Nd, Ni, Pr, Sb, Sn, Th, Tl, Y, and Zr were significantly higher while those of Cd, Co, Rb, Sc, Se, and Zn were significantly lower in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues. Moreover, it was shown that malignant transformation significantly changed the relationships of trace elements in prostate. Thus, in adenocarcinoma transformed prostate tissue the trace element metabolism is significantly disturbed.