The significanceof serum YKL?40 levels in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer

Human Glykoprotein 39 (YKL?40) is secreted by cancer cells along with some of the cancer surrounding cells. In the present study, we investigated the relationships between serum YKL?40 levels and Gleason score, grade, and stage of the disease in patients with prostate cancer.Human Glykoprotein 39 (YKL?40) levels were measured using ELISA in serum samples obtained from 34 prostate cancer patients at the initial diagnosis and 34 patients with histological BPH. PSA levels were determined by use of an automated systemThe of serum YKL-40 concentration in patients with BPH was mean±SD, 137,43±82,06 ng/ml, and that of the patients with prostate cancer was mean±SD, 165,67±107,84 ng/ml. Elevated serum YKL-40 levels were strongly associated with only metastatic stage of the prostate cancer disease of our patients. No association of elevated YKL-40 levels with Gleason score groups or Gleason grade were observed.Our results suggest that elevated serum YKL-40 levels may be a useful indicator of tumor burden and metastatic stage prostate cancer. Further studies are required to fully elucidate the biological function of YKL-40 in prostate cancer.Key Words: YKL-40, Prostate cancer, BPH