Serum Total Homocysteine Level in Association with Folate and Vitamin B12 Status Among Algerian Prostate Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine are essential for methyl group metabolism and thus also for DNA methylation and metabolic disorders may lead to carcinogenesis metabolic disorders, which may lead to carcinogenesis. In the present study, we proposed to evaluate the associations between folate and vitamin B₁₂, with fasting plasma tHcy concentration in prostate cancer (PCa) patients.

Methods: A case –control study was conducted with 40 newly patients with prostate cancer diagnosed with prostate cancer and 50 age matched healthy controls. Serum level of total homocysteine, folate and vitamin B₁₂ were measured by enzyme conversion immunoassay and radioassay, respectively using the ARCHITECT system (both Abbott–Diagnostics Division).

Results: The average rate of total PSA was 20.97 ng / ml (ranged between 8- 60 ng / ml). 53% of patients had a PSA≥20ng/ml. Histology confirmed that all patients accounted for prostatic adenocarcinoma with prognostic Gleason score that ranged between 7 and 8 . There are no significant differences between cases and controls about serum Hcy levels (adjusted OR = 0.160% CI = 0.832-1.031), folate levels (adjusted OR = 0.428% CI  = 0.977-1.008) and vitamin B₁₂ (adjusted OR = 0.103% CI  = 0.992-1.001).

Conclusion: In this study, the results show that homocysteine is not involved in prostate cancer. However, this study shows that the sporadic form is much more prevalent than familial one. The diagnosis is often made too late in advanced stage with a high PSA levels and biopsy showing high levels of Gleason