title: Relationship between neuroendocrine features and prognostic parameters in human prostate adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The biological behaviour of prostate cancer is highly variable and prediction by the commonly employed prognostic parameters is not sufficient. The concept of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in prostate adenocarcinoma has recently received increasing attention due to possible implications for prognosis and therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Core needle biopsies from 142 newly diagnosed patients were immunohistochemically examined for the coexistence of NE differentiation using an antibody against chromogranin A (CgA). Circulating CgA was available in 106 of these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NE differentiation was found in 64 (45.1%) tumors. Among them 29 (20.4%) had CgA positive cells scattered or focally distributed in less than 5% per mm3 of tumor tissues, 26 (18.3%) between 5% and 10% and 9 (6.4%) more than 10%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the extent of NE features and either Gleason score (P < 0.01) or stage of disease. Circulating CgA but not PSA correlated with immunohistochemical CgA (P < 0.03) particularly in metastatic cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the concept that NE differentiation in human prostate cancer has a negative prognostic significance. Circulating CgA levels reflect immunohistochemical findings.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Anatomia Patologica, Università di Torino, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bollito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leonardo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarabuzzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappia
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampellini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gubetta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins