Publication:

Is serum glutathione level in combination with serum PSA useful for early detection of prostatic carcinoma? A local study of Iraq

Background Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men of western countries. The aim of this study is to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools for the early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) through detection of low level of Serum reduced Glutathione (GSH).

Methods Serum samples from men being evaluated for PCa were analyzed for reduced Glutathione (GSH) level. The results were compared with the prostate needle biopsy findings and (PSA) level combined with Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). Samples were obtained from 59 cases including 18 controls.

Results The maximum sensitivity of the test was observed in the first category of confirmed cases with 93.33% turs positive detected with low GSH. Among those highly suspected Ca prostate there was 87.5% true positive test and 12.5% false negative results. Among those in grey zone where PSA between is 4 and 10, and DRE is suggestive, the proportion of true positive was 50%.

Conclusions These results demonstrate that serum reduced Glutathione (GSH) level is helpful in patient with definite carcinoma. This test could be useful in augmenting current PCa diagnostic procedures. For example, the examination test for reduced Glutathione (GSH) level with an elevated prostate- specific antigen level might be used in predicting which patients will have negative biopsies and may be used as treatment modality for PCa.