Some Oxidative Stress Biomarkers among Patients with Prostate Cancer in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Globally, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. It is a significant contributor to the burden of diseases and affects over a million men. This study investigated the levels of malondialdehyde and plasma total antioxidant capacity among patients with prostate cancer in Sokoto. This case-control study was conducted among 28 confirmed prostate cancer patients attending the Urology clinics in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and Sokoto Specialist Hospital in North Western Nigeria. Twenty-eight age-matched healthy males were monitored as controls. Determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) was determined using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) reagent while the Malondialdehyde in serum was determined as a conjugate with Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) acid. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were processed using SPSS version 20 and results were reported as Mean ± Standard deviation. The malondialdehyde level was significantly increased (p < 0.0001) among subjects with prostate cancer (0.215 ± 0.06) compared to controls (0.073 ± 0.04). The plasma total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly among the subjects (247.9 ± 63.3) compared to controls (743.3 ± 104.40) (p < 0.0001). The findings from this indicated a high Malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation indicator) and low levels of Total Antioxidant Capacity among prostate cancer patients as evidence of redox imbalance. Subjects in monogamous relationships compared to polygamous, rural dwellers, farmers, individuals of Hausa ethnicity and subjects who reported no family history of the disease were more predisposed to prostate cancer. Further epidemiological studies are needed to determine the predisposing factors and the potential role of these markers in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of prostate cancer patients in Sokoto in particular and Nigeria in general. We recommend that Malondialdehyde and Total Antioxidant Capacity be routinely monitored among patients with prostate cancer patients in the area.