Method and portable facility for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent analysis of zinc content in needle-biopsy specimens of prostate

A facility and method for radionuclide-induced (Cd-109) energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent (EDXRF) were developed to determine the Zn content in the needle-biopsy specimens of human prostate. The material received from 33 subjects was used for quality control of Zn results and estimation of Br, Rb, Sr, and Zn contents in prostate: 23 patients (13 benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and 10 cancer) and 10 apparently healthy persons (control group of men died unexpectedly). All materials were divided into two parts. One of them was morphologically examined while Zn content of another one was estimated. Mean values (M +/- SEM) for mass fraction of Zn (mg kg(-1) on dry weight basis) in normal, hyperplastic and cancerous prostate tissues were 1110 +/- 40, 1140 +/- 110, and 134 +/- 18, respectively. It was shown that the needle-biopsy specimens were sufficiently representative for an assessment of the Zn content in affected tissue of prostate. The developed method provides Zn estimation in both fresh and dry needle-biopsy specimens, as well as in samples made of lyophilized and homogenized tissues of resected prostate. The facility for EDXRF is comparatively compact and can be located in close proximity to the site of carrying out the biopsy procedure. Additionally, the developed facility and method allow to determine Br, Rb, and Sr contents in samples of prostate tissue. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.