Neuroendocrine differentiation and prognosis in prostatic adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prognostic importance of neuroendocrine differentiation in conventional (non-small cell) prostatic adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
Ninety-two samples from patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were studied retrospectively. The immunohistochemical analysis of chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase in formalin-fixed, paraffin wax embedded prostatic tissue chips was related to other prognostic variables and patient survival.


RESULTS
Neuroendocrine differentiation was detected in 48 cases; there was a significant correlation with worsening tumour differentiation, the presence of bone metastases and with worsening survival, but no independent effect of neuroendocrine differentiation on survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of neuroendocrine differentiation in conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma is not an independent indicator of prognosis.
McWilliam
L J
LJ
Department of Pathological Sciences, University of Manchester, South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, UK.
Manson
C
C
George
N J
NJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase