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Method for identifying prostate cells in semen using flow cytometry
Author(s) -
Barren Robert J.,
Holmes Eric H.,
Boynton Alton L.,
Gregorakis Alkibiades,
Elgamal AbdelAziz A.,
Cobb Oliver E.,
Wilson Charles L.,
Ragde Haakon,
Murphy Gerald P.
Publication year - 1998
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(19980801)36:3<181::aid-pros6>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - prostate , prostate cancer , medicine , semen , cytokeratin , prostate specific antigen , pathology , population , urology , biopsy , cancer , andrology , immunohistochemistry , environmental health
BACKGROUND Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) cannot differentiate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), from prostatitis, or prostate cancer in the range of 4.0–10 ng/ml. An accurate cytologic or histologic assessment is necessary to confirm the proper diagnosis. The nature of a biopsy tends to make it a selective test not frequently repeated. We are reporting a technique employing semen as a source for the differential diagnosis of prostate epithelial cells. METHODS Eleven vasectomized and nonvasectomized prostate cancer patients provided semen samples (stage T1 to T2). Two patients provided repeat samples. In addition, 15 vasectomized or nonvasectomized individuals without evidence of disease provided semen samples. Three million cells fixed with 50% ethanol were stained by an antibody (7E11.C5) to prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), Hybritech Antibody (399) to PSA, and cytokeratin 8 and 18. In addition to the antibodies described, a DNA stain To‐Pro 3 was used to identify 2n‐4n DNA containing cells. A dual laser, Becton Dickinson FACSCaliber cytometer, was used to analyze the samples. RESULTS All semen specimens contained diploid, cytokeratin 18–positive epithelial cells regardless of disease status. A clear difference between prostate cancer and normal prostate cell samples was observed using staining with 7E11.C5. The ratio of prostatic cells in the total epithelial cell population (PSMA:cytokeratin ratios) was calculated for each specimen. A retrospective study of sixteen semen samples from 11 prostate cancer patients had a mean PSMA:cytokeratin ratio of 0.57, whereas the samples from 15 patients without evidence of cancer had a mean PSMA:cytokeratin ratio of 0.11. This difference was significant. PSA staining was variable and inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS This report demonstrates that human semen contains prostate cells that can be characterized and used in the clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer. Prostate 36:181–188, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.