Serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (31-98) in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether serum levels of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) (31-98) could be a useful marker in patients with prostatic carcinoma. GRP is produced and secreted by prostatic neuroendocrine cells.


METHODS
Serum levels of ProGRP(31-98) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 107 patients with prostatic carcinoma.


RESULTS
The mean serum levels of ProGRP(31-98) in patients with distant metastasis and hormone-resistant prostate cancer were significantly elevated compared with those in patients with organ-confined disease. Significantly elevated levels of ProGRP(31-98) were detected in 9 patients with prostatic carcinoma before any treatment. During hormone-resistant prostate cancer progression, ProGRP(31-98) levels were elevated in 9 patients (23%). Of the 9 patients with Stage D3 and elevated serum ProGRP, 4 had a normal serum prostate-specific antigen level.


CONCLUSIONS
ProGRP may be a potential tumor marker for prostate cancer. Additional studies in large groups of patients are needed to define the clinical value of ProGRP.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C087079:pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (31-98); D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen