Divergent neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma.
A rich variety of neuroendocrine cells are present in the normal prostate gland. Prostatic carcinoma may show divergent differentiation towards a neuroendocrine phenotype in the form of neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma or carcinoid-like tumors. Much more common is focal neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic adenocarcinoma which may be pronounced in approximately 10% of adenocarcinomas. The prognostic significance of focal neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma is controversial but current evidence suggests an influence on prognosis related to hormone resistant tumors and/or a role in the conversion to a hormonal resistant phenotype. Chromogranin A appears to be the best overall tissue and serum marker of neuroendocrine differentiation. Chromogranin A serum levels may be useful in the assessment of the emergence of and/or progression of hormone resistant cancer.
di Sant' Agnese
P A
PA
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642, USA.
D001078:APUD Cells / Q000473:pathology; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018193:Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins