ESR and CRP levels and their relationship with PSA at initial diagnosis of prostate cancer

Objectives & Background: Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy (except for skin malignancies) in men. Chronic inflammation has been shown to be associated with cancer. Although this association has not been proven for prostate cancer, evidence shows that inflammation has a possible role in prostate cancer. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are the two key indices in assessing inflammation. It was therefore decided to investigate ESR and CRP in patients with prostate cancer and assess their relationship with Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at initial diagnosis.Materials & Methods: In the present descriptive analytical case-control study, the study population consisted of 290 patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer who were selected by census. Patients were assessed in two 145-patient groups of control (BPH) and case (prostate cancer). Patients ESR, CRP and PSA and demographic variables were extracted from their hospital records. Data were analyzed in SPSS-18 using statistical tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: According to the results, patients mean age was 70.71±10.19 years, mean ESR 38.86±31.28, and mean CRP 1.28±1.01. There was a significant difference between two groups in mean values of ESR and CRP (P<0.05). The results also showed positive correlations between age and PSA, ESR and PSA, CRP and PSA, and CRP and ESR in patients with prostate cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion: As inflammatory factors, ESR and CRP increase in patients with prostate cancer, and they can be used in diagnosis of prostate cancer as assisted diagnostic assay and prognostic factors (only ESR) in conjunction with PSA.

Keywords:

Neoplasm , prostate , Blood sedimentation , inflammation