Objective: To evaluate lipoprotein profile and sex hormones in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their possible associations with some inflammatory markers linked to PCa.
Methods: A total of 150 men (50-65 years), matched by age and body mass index (BMI), included in this study and divided into three groups according to total prostate specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination and prostate biopsy: 50 PCa, 50 BPH and 50 controls. Total cholesterol (Chol), HDL-chol, LDL-chol, triglycerides (TG), total testosterone (T), free T (FT), bioavailable T (BioT), estradiol and SHBG were measured. The free androgen index (FAI) and TG/HDL-chol were calculated. In 25 PCa and 25 controls, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin and insulin were determined.
Results: Patients with PCa showed higher TG/HDL-chol and diminished HDL-chol than Controls and BPH. PSA correlated inversely with HDL-chol and directly with TG/HDL-chol. FAI, FT, BioT and estradiol levels were higher, and SHBG and adiponectin were lower in PCa than in Controls. No differences were found in androgens between BPH and PCa.
Conclusion: Our most novel findings are that the patients with PCa presented lower total Chol and HDL-chol and higher TG/HDL-chol than BPH and Controls. Patients with PCa showed higher androgens and lower adiponectin than Controls.