EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR EXPRESSION IN PRIMARY PROSTATE CANCER IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA; ASSOCIATION WITH TUMOUR GRADES AND PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN
Monday Komene Sapira* and Ukamaka Chinelo Ogbonnaya
ABSTRACT
Reports in the literature indicate that the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is associated with a worse prognosis of prostate cancer and the development of therapeutic resistance. This study aimed to find out if serum EGF correlates with serum PSA and tumour grade in Port Harcourt. Materials and Methods: All male patients that presented to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were assessed with history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Test included serum PSA full blood count, abdominopelvic ultrasonography transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate. Those with features of prostatic disease had transrectal prostate biopsy done. Each patient’s tumour was graded using the Gleason’s and Grade Group (John Hopkins hospital) systems. Further staging investigations used as indicated were CT scan, CT-urography and pelvic MRI. Serum PSA and epidermal growth factor were measured with ELISA techniques. Results were presented in charts, tables and in prose from. Results: One hundred and four patients (104) had confirmed prostatic tumours. Sixty had benign prostatic hyperplasia. Forty-four (44) had adenocarcinoma of the prostate (PCa). There was a strong correlation between pretreatment serum PSA and serum epidermal growth factor concentrations. The serum EGF expression had a positive correlation with tumour grade up to Gleason 7 (Grade Group grade 3) and after became weakly negative. Conclusion: EGF expression increases with serum PSA and tumour burden. Further tests are necessary to establish the relationship between tumour grade and serum EGF expression. Likely, urinary EGF suggested by others may be more appropriate in predicting PCa grades.
Keywords: Prostate cancer, Level of correlation, Serum epidermal growth factor expression and serum PSA, Tumour grade, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]