Thiol groups are important
anti-oxidants and essential molecules protecting organism against the harmful effects of
reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of our study is to evaluate
thiol-disulphide homeostasis with a novel recent automated method in patients with localized
prostate cancer (PC) before and six months after radical
prostatectomy (RP). 18 patients with PC and 17 healthy control subjects were enrolled into the study. Blood samples were collected from the controls subjects and patients before and six months after RP.
Thiol-disulphide homeostasis was determined using a recently developed novel method.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA),
albumin, total
protein, total
thiol, native
thiol, disulphide and total
antioxidant status (TAS) were measured and compared between the groups. Native
thiol, total
thiol and TAS levels were significantly higher in the control group than the patients before RP (p < .001). There was a non-significant increase in the native
thiol, total
thiol and TAS levels in the patients six months after RP in comparison to the levels before RP (p values .3, .3 and .09, respectively). We found a significant negative correlation between PSA and
thiol levels. Our study demonstrated that the decreased
thiol and TAS levels weakened
anti-oxidant defence mechanism in the patients with PC as indicated. Increased oxidative stress in
prostate cancer patients may cause metabolic disturbance and have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of
prostate cancer.