PGE2 and LTB4 tissue levels in benign and cancerous prostates.

PGE2 and LTB4 are involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis in several tissues but have not been studied in prostate cancer and hyperplasia until now. We therefore measured PGE2 and LTB4 productions in a total of 206 prostate tissues from 116 patients including benign hyperplastic (90), pericancerous (106) and cancerous samples (10). We also analysed the influence of inflammation levels, prostate volume and glandular to epithelial ratio. PGE2 and LTB4 concentrations were measured using specific enzyme immunoassay kits. There was a correlation between PGE2 level, prostatic volume, inflammation score, and decreased glandular surface. By contrast, there was no correlation between LTB4 levels and inflammation or PGE2 production. Cancerous samples had higher LTB4 levels than pericancerous samples, but there was no difference in PGE2 levels. PGE2 and inflammation may be associated to stromal benign prostatic hyperplasia whereas LTB4 may play a role in prostate carcinogenesis.