Neuroendocrine serum tumour markers in hormone-resistant prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of elevated serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and chromogranin A (CgA) in hormone-resistant prostate cancer (HRPC), and to evaluate these markers' prognostic significance. Secondarily we wanted to assess any change in serum levels of NSE or CgA after palliative radiotherapy.


METHODS
Serum samples from patients with painful bone metastases or symptomatic pelvic tumours due to HRPC were analyzed for prostate specific antigen (PSA), NSE and CgA before and after palliative radiotherapy.


RESULTS
Forty-six of 138 patients (33%) had elevated NSE before radiotherapy, while 80 (58%) had elevated CgA, without correlation between the two markers or with PSA. After radiotherapy the median NSE level was significantly reduced (p=0.004), whereas CgA (p=0.009) and PSA (p=0.019) increased. In the multivariate survival analysis, a reduced performance status, >20 bone metastases on bone scan, low hemoglobin, and pre-radiotherapy elevated NSE levels indicated a short survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Together with known clinical parameters, NSE predicts survival in patients with HRPC. NSE could become a valuable prognostic marker in patients with this condition.
Hvamstad
Tor
T
Department of Clinical Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway.
Jordal
Anders
A
Hekmat
Nima
N
Paus
Elisabeth
E
Fosså
Sophie Dorothea
SD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000097:blood*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D010166:Palliative Care; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase