Associations between plasma and urinary heavy metal concentrations and the risk of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with incidence rates projected to double between 2020 and 2040. This growing health challenge highlights the need for improved diagnostic strategies and risk assessment tools to better understand disease etiology and progression. Among environmental factors, heavy metals have been implicated in inflammation and carcinogenesis, yet their specific role in prostate disease remains insufficiently explored. This novel study analyses the relationship between heavy metal concentrations in plasma and urine of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, precancerous lesions and prostate cancer. In addition to evaluating key clinical parameters, including age, total PSA levels, hemoglobin concentrations and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, it aims to determine whether specific heavy metals contribute to the progression of prostate disease and whether they can serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis. Our findings reveal significant differences in vanadium and antimony concentrations in plasma, suggesting a potential role in prostate disease pathophysiology. Notably, lower plasma antimony concentrations are associated with an increased risk of PC, while plasma vanadium concentrations are significantly higher in the PL group. Regression analysis further supports the association between heavy metal concentrations and the risk of PL and PC, highlighting the potential of vanadium and copper as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for prostate health. The study also explores the impact of lead exposure on prostate cancer risk, revealing a significant association between urine lead concentration and PC. These findings underscore the complex interaction between heavy metal concentrations and prostate disease risk, emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate underlying mechanisms and explore therapeutic interventions.