Serum Methionine Metabolites and Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Author Information
Author(s): Sally Stabler, Tatsuki Koyama, Zhiguo Zhao, Magaly Martinez-Ferrer, Robert H. Allen, Zigmund Luka, Lioudmila V. Loukachevitch, Peter E. Clark, Conrad Wagner, Neil A. Bhowmick
Primary Institution: Vanderbilt University
Hypothesis
Can methionine metabolites in urine and serum serve as pre-surgical markers for aggressive prostate cancer?
Conclusion
Higher serum homocysteine, cystathionine, and cysteine concentrations independently predicted the risk of early biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Urinary sarcosine and cysteine levels were significantly higher in the recurrent group.
- Serum concentrations of homocysteine, cystathionine, and cysteine were more abundant in the recurrent population.
- The inclusion of serum cysteine improved prediction models for biochemical recurrence.
Takeaway
Doctors can use certain substances in the blood to better predict if prostate cancer will come back after treatment.
Methodology
The study analyzed urine and serum samples from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, comparing those who developed biochemical recurrence within 2 years to those who remained recurrence-free for over 5 years.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the retrospective nature of patient selection.
Limitations
The study had a relatively small sample size and was retrospective in nature.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of participants was 60 years, with a focus on prostate cancer patients undergoing surgery.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.65 to 20.29
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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