PROSTATE CANCER: EVIDENCE OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING OXIDATIVE STRESS

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. However the etiology of this disease remains largely unclear. Both genetic and environmental factors seem to be involved in the pathogenesis. In the last years the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in deterioration of DNA, proteins, lipids of membrane cells has been demonstrated. Also external antioxidant factors such as vitamin C and vitamin E, melatonin, that intercept free radicals, play a role, preventing damage to cellular biomolecules. The antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) is a part of the enzymatic antioxidant defence, preventing oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and lipids by detoxifying hydrogen and lipid peroxides that may contribute to prostate cancer development. Some recent studies indicate an association between GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphism and an increased risk of cancer. So the alimentary integration with an antioxidant agent such as ascorbate of potassium with ribose (PAR) can play an important rule in the prevention and also cure of prostatic cancer, opposing the effect of ROS, both in men carriers of the polymorphism the GPX1 Pro198Leu and in the general population after the demonstration on blood samples of an increase of the oxidative stress parameters.