Prostate carcinoma with testicular or penile metastases. Clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features.
BACKGROUND
Despite the proximity, prostate carcinoma seldom metastasizes to the penis or testis.


METHODS
In the current study, the authors retrospectively examined the clinical history of 12 patients with prostate carcinoma and testicular or penile metastases. Pathologic review and immunohistochemical staining were performed on tumors from eight of these patients.


RESULTS
Patients with prostate carcinoma and testicular or penile metastasis responded to androgen ablative therapy (median duration, 33 months). They were predisposed to developing persistent or recurrent urinary symptoms and visceral metastases. Six of 9 evaluable patients had elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels (> 6 ng/mL), whereas 2 of 10 patients had low or undetectable serum prostate specific antigen levels (< 4 ng/mL). In seven of the eight patients for whom specimens were available, the tumors were found to contain histologic features that were compatible with a diagnosis of ductal or endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the prostate.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with prostate carcinoma and testicular or penile metastases have unique clinical and pathologic characteristics. Many of these patients' tumors are compatible with a subtype of prostate carcinoma known as ductal adenocarcinoma. Further studies need to be performed to elucidate the biologic basis of the various histologic subtypes of prostate carcinoma.
Tu
Shi-Ming
SM
Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. stu@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu
Reyes
Adriana
A
Maa
April
A
Bhowmick
Deb
D
Pisters
Louis L
LL
Pettaway
Curtis A
CA
Lin
Sue-Hwa
SH
Troncoso
Patricia
P
Logothetis
Christopher J
CJ
D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen