DNA-BASE MODIFICATIONS AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN HUMAN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

The authors have studied DNA base damage and activities of antioxidant enzymes in human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues and surro unding disease-free tissues removed from prostate glands of 15 patient s. In these tissues, endogenous levels of various typical hydroxyl rad ical-induced products of DNA bases and activities of catalase and supe roxide dismutase were measured. The majority of patients had higher le vels of DNA base lesions and lower activities of enzymes in BPH tissue s than in normal prostate tissues. When activities of both enzymes wer e lower in BPH tissues than in normal tissues, the increases in the am ounts of DNA base lesions over control levels were most prominent. In the case of similar enzyme activities in both BPH and normal tissues, no changes in levels of DNA base lesions were observed. These results suggest a possible association between antioxidant enzyme activities a nd levels of DNA base lesions in BPH tissues. Some of the identified D NA lesions are known to be premutagenic and may play a role in carcino genesis. Although a possible link between BPH and prostate cancer is c ontroversial, BPH patients with both decreased antioxidant enzyme acti vities and increased levels of DNA lesions may be at risk of developin g prostate cancer.