HPLC for stress-free screening of potential prostate cancer marker catechol estrogens in urine using a diamond-electrode electrochemical and a fluorescence detector

Improvement of the sensitivity and specificity of a simultaneous stress-free screening method for catechol estrogens as a potential prostate cancer marker in urine has been accomplished by HPLC with a diamond-electrode electrochemical detector and a fluorescence detector. Since taking urine samples generates less stress (or pain) than the drawing of blood, the method can readily be applied to almost any patient, and will also assist in improving the sensitivity and specificity of the prostatic specific antigen test. Catechol estrogens (2-hydroxyestrone, 4-hydroxyestrone, 2-methoxyestrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol, 2-methoxyestradiol, and 2-hydroxyestriol) and estrogens (estrone, estradiol, estriol) were separated on an Inertsil ODS-II column with acetonitrile-potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 3.0). The diamond-electrode electrochemical detector used had the great advantage of being a maintenance-free system, and could sequentially analyze hundreds of samples. Fluorescence detection improved the sensitivity 10-500 times (e. g., the LOD of 2-hydroxyestriol was improved 250 times) compared to previous electrochemical detection reports, and dual detection improved peak identification in the urine samples. The proposed method was applied to the simultaneous determination of catechol estrogens in spiked urine in a preliminary study on estrogens and PSA values in biopsy and prostate cancer patients.