Evaluation of Zinc in Patients of Prostatic Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Zinc is an essential trace element, with the primary function to manufacture proteins and nucleic acid. It has an important role in the healthy functioning of the prostate gland.

Objective: To assess the correlation of serum zinc level with the progression of prostatic carcinoma.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done on 100 subjects with enlarged prostate, who underwent prostatectomy, were selected from Urology OPD, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from October 2011 to November 2017. A total of 70 individuals who were positive for prostate malignancy were included in the patient's group, and 30 individuals found to be negative for prostate malignancy, were included in the control group. The patient group was further divided into subgroups based on Gleason's score and stages of prostate cancer. Analysis of serum zinc was performed in the patient and the control group. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis.

Results: Mean serum zinc value (46.75±2.89 ug/dl) among prostate cancer patients was significantly lower from mean serum zinc value (88.27±7.8 ug/dl) of the control group (p-value 0.001). Serum zinc level in 1A (Stage 1), 47.89±3.96; 1B (Stage 2), 46.08±1.97; 1C (Stage 3), 45.35±3.06; and 1D (Stage 4), 42.51±2.68 had an inverse correlation to Gleason Score, showing serum zinc level decreased in subgroups as their Gleason Score, and stage of prostate carcinoma progressed.

Conclusion: In this study, it may be concluded that serum zinc has a negative correlation to tumor progression and may be used as a biochemical indicator for its progression and prognosis.