Tumor necrosis factor alpha as a potential marker for prostate cancer

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is currently the most common cause of cancer death in men. The exact cause of developing prostate cancer is not known though inflammation, ageing, ethnicity and heredity are important factors involved in the initiation and development of this cancer. Aim of study : The aim of this study to determine the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in sera of thirty patients with prostate cancer (PCa), thirty patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and in thirty health volunteers, T/DHT ratio was also calculated. Result: There was a significant increase in the levels of PSA, TNF-α, T and T/DHT ratio in PCa as well as BPH patients compared to the controls. There was a significant decrease in DHT levels in both PCa and BPH compared to the controls. Conclusion: TNF-α could serve as a potential marker for the diagnosis of PCa.

Keywords

• prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia, TNF-α, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone