Cancer of the prostate: Early diagnosis by zinc and hormone analysis? (original) (raw)

Original Article
Published: 01 June 1979

British Journal of Cancer volume 39, pages 700–704 (1979)Cite this article

195 Accesses
62 Citations
3 Altmetric
Metrics details

Abstract

Zinc, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations have been measured in normal prostatic tissue and in specimens obtained from untreated patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and carcinoma of the prostate (CaP). The metal--androgen relationship was examined and related to the pathological condition of the patients. The evidence suggests that discriminant analysis combining the hormonal data into a single variable is a reliable test for distinguishing between BPH and CaP patients. We have observed that the high Zn values found in BPH specimens were always associated with a DTH:T ratio greater than 1. Androgen tissue ratios less than 1 were characteristic of all CaP specimens, and these were usually preceded by a reduction in prostatic Zn concentration. Since these patterns, particularly those associated with neoplasia, precede the clinical manifestations, they may be used as an index for predicting the onset of carcinoma in the prostate gland. They may also be of value in monitoring the progress of the disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 24 print issues and online access

$259.00 per year

only $10.79 per issue

Buy this article

Purchase on SpringerLink
Instant access to full article PDF

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Habib, F., Mason, M., Smith, P. et al. Cancer of the prostate: Early diagnosis by zinc and hormone analysis?.Br J Cancer 39, 700–704 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.123

Download citation

Issue Date: 01 June 1979
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.123