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Use of neuroendocrine serum markers in the follow‐up of patients with cancer of the prostate
Author(s) -
Angelsen Anders,
Syversen Unni,
Stridsberg Mats,
Haugen Olav A.,
Mjølnerød Ove Kr.,
Waldum Helge L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970501)31:2<110::aid-pros6>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - chromogranin a , medicine , prostate , enolase , prostate cancer , pathology , neuroendocrine differentiation , adenocarcinoma , transurethral resection of the prostate , somatostatin , endocrinology , gastroenterology , cancer , immunohistochemistry
Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation of prostatic adenocarcinomas has received increasing attention in recent years as a result of possible implications on prognosis and therapy. The incidence of NE cells in tumors has been reported from 10% up to 100%. Several studies have shown chromogranin A (CgA) to be the most reliable serum marker of NE differentiation. We have followed 22 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma over a 2‐year period. The patients underwent a palliative transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) because of urinary outflow obstruction. The prostatic tissue specimens were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies against CgA, chromogranin B (CgB), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), serotonin, and somatostatin. In addition, each specimen was stained with hematoxylin & eosin (H & E), and saffran for tumor grading. Blood samples were taken preoperatively and after 1, 3, 6, and 24 months. The serum values of CgA, CgB, pancreastatin (Pst), NSE, and prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) were determined from each sample. Carcinomas with groups of CgA‐positive cells had higher serum levels of CgA compared to carcinomas with no or only scattered CgA‐positive NE cells. During the 2‐year period, there were no statistical significant variations in serum levels of CgA, NSE, Pst, and PSA. However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of CgB during the same period. P = 0.002, possibly due to an increase in number of NE cells in tumor or to a relative increase in production of CgB in the NE cells. Prostate 31:110–117, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.