Alterations in physicochemical characteristics of blood plasma in men with prostate tumors

Abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men worldwide. Therefore, identification of specific biomarkers for early dignosis are crucial prerequisites for efficient treatment of patients. We investigated alterations in the physicochemical characteristics of blood plasma proteins from men with prostate tumors, and its diagnostic significance with the identified alterations. Blood plasma of patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate (BHP), BHP with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) regions and Cancer of Prostate (CaP) were used. Spectroscopic and SDS-PAGE methodologies were utilized for examining alterations in the physicochemical characteristics of blood plasma proteins. Relationship between alterations of the first-peak fluorescence intensities and prostate tumor progression was observed. Also, increased intensity of the second-peak corresponding to nicotinamide co-enzymes (NADH and NADPH) was noted in BHP-with-HGPIN and CaP specimens. The main peak maximum (Td) was observed at 66-67°C in BHP plasma and at 63-64°C in BHP-with-HGPIN regions and CaP. In BHP and BHP-with-HGPIN regions, an arm was noted at 70-71°С. The portions of thermostable proteins (acute phase proteins) were increased and modified proteins were formed in plasmas during the malignant transformation. Recorded fluorescence spectra allowed to differentiate prostate tumors and determine the disease progression. Differential scanning calorimetry markedly differentiated benign BHP-with-HGPIN regions and CaP, which shows the diagnostic importance of the method.