Determination of sarcosine in urine as a predictor of prostate cancer using Enzyme linked immunosorbent method

Prostate cancer is a type of malignancy that is defined by abnormal development of cells in the prostate tissue. Prostate cancer needs early intervention since its incidence and prevalence is high across the world leading to high morbidity and mortality. Prostatic specific antigen test which is the commonly used screening test in Kenya and across the world is nonspecific, expensive and inaccessible to many people in rural setting who are in need. The definitive histological test is invasive and requires specialized facilities and personnel. This study sought to investigate sarcosine in urine as a predictor of prostate cancer to supplement prostatic specific antigen test in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. Cross sectional study design was employed in this study for all suspected prostate cancer identified according to clinical assessment during the study period. Midstream urine samples of about 30mls was collected in plastic tubes, centrifuged and supernatant collected and analyzed using ELISA method for sarcosine. Raw data obtained was tabulated in excel and transferred to statistical package for social science. Differences in means and standard deviation from various age groups was analyzed using one-way Anova and Independent t test. The Bonferroni was used as post Hoc to test the means that were significant from others. Significance level was set at 95%. The concentration of sarcosine (4.30±0.11nmol/ml) in prostate cancer participants was significantly higher than the concentration (0.47±0.06nmol/ml) of control participants using ELISA (p<0.001;). Hence Sarcosine in urine needs to be analyzed for the testing of prostate tumor since it is raised in confirmed prostate carcinoma participants as compared to negative control units. The age groups of the prostate tumor participants had no significant variation in sarcosine concentration using ELISA method (p=0.57). Similarly, the age groups of the control individuals were not significantly different in sarcosine concentration (p=0.17). Future studies need to dwell in incorporating sarcosine metabolite in urine.