Cortisol Level and Hematologic Parameters in African Men with Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Aim(s): This study aimed to investigate the cortisol level and some hematologic parameters in African men with Prostate cancer (PCa) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) compared to healthy controls. It also evaluated the influence of age and illness duration on the parameters as a potential diagnostic and prognostic value in distinguishing malignant from benign prostate cancer. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Methods: The study involved 100 African men attending or referred to Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, Abia state, Nigeria. There were 35 malignant prostate tumor patients, 35 non-malignant prostate tumor patients, and 30 healthy adult men who served as control subjects. Five milliliters of blood samples were collected from each participant’s vein for hematologic studies, total and free serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and cortisol levels. Data were statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA or student T-test (p < 0.05). Results: Data analysis showed that cortisol levels in malignant patients were statistically higher, while packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), and platelet counts were statistically lower compared to both benign and control patients. Further comparison showed that prostate cancer patients with shorter illness durations (< 1 year from time of diagnosis) had statistically lower Hb, PCV, and lower lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocyte counts compared with patients with longer duration (> 1 year from time of diagnosis). Conclusion: The study revealed that prostate disorders result in alterations in cortisol levels and pancytopenia with a predisposition to anemia. Therefore, these results suggest the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of cortisol and hematological parameters in distinguishing between malignant and benign conditions.