title: Molecular staging of prostate cancer. III. Effects of cystoscopy and needle biopsy on the enhanced reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effects of prostatic manipulations, including flexible cystoscopy and transrectal needle biopsy, on the enhanced reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay in 57 men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was performed on 25 patients with clinically localized stages T1 to T2cN0M0 prostate cancer before and 30 minutes after cystoscopy. In addition, blood specimens from 32 patients with elevated serum prostate specific antigen and/or abnormal digital rectal examinations were tested immediately before and at 30 minutes after transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected no difference between polymerase chain reaction results obtained immediately before and 30 minutes after cystoscopy in 25 men. Transrectal needle biopsy had no effect on the polymerase chain reaction results in 30 of 32 men. However, 2 men had positive reactions on post-biopsy specimens only. Pathological results of the biopsy revealed benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, respectively, in these 2 men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that cystoscopy has no clinically significant effect on the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. However, prostatic needle biopsy may cause a positive polymerase chain reaction for PSA in the immediate post-biopsy period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cama
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buttyan
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003558:Cystoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase