Increased Levels of Oxidative Stress in Human Prostate Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Prostate Cancer: Evidence from 4-Hydroxyneonal Detection and Its Implications

Prostate cancer is not only the most common type of cancer in elderly American men but also the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in American men. The currently available treatments in clinics target male hormones that are majorly required for maintaining many physiological functions, including muscle strength, leading to poor life quality and subsequent patient-opted intermittent treatment. Aging is a key factor in prostate cancer that is associated with increased levels of oxidative stress. Several lines of evidence indicated elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in prostate cancer, including its precursor, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). In this current study, we utilized 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) as a general readout for overall oxidative stress to demonstrate the imbalance between ROS and antioxidants in human prostate cancer and its precursor lesion in both human culture cell lines and tissue samples. Our results showed that the production of 4HNE adducts was increased in human prostate cancer cells and was non-linearly correlated with prostate cancer stage. They also provided insight into prevention and potential therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.