Ethnic differences in neuroendocrine cell expression in normal human prostatic tissue.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether any differences exist in neuroendocrine (NE) cell differentiation in normal prostates among various ethnic groups because the incidence and mortality from prostate cancer vary across racial groups.


METHODS
Archived paraffin-embedded prostate samples not containing any malignancy were obtained from cystoprostatectomy specimens. Prostatic tissue was obtained from 15 African Americans, 13 Hispanics, 15 Asians, and 16 whites. NE cells were identified based on immunoreactivity for chromogranin A. The mean number of NE cells per high power field (HPF) for each patient was determined using a visual quantitative method by two observers who were unaware of the race of the patients.


RESULTS
The geometric mean number of NE cells was 6.1/HPF for Asians, 5.6/HPF for whites, 4.0/HPF for Hispanics, and 0.7/HPF for African Americans. A highly significant difference was observed in the distribution of NE cells between African Americans and each of the other races (P < or =0.003). A trend toward greater NE expression was noted in Asians and whites compared with Hispanics; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a fivefold to eightfold difference in the distribution of NE cells in the normal prostates of African-American men compared with that of other races. The comparatively low NE cell expression in African-American men may play a role in the greater rate of prostate carcinogenesis seen in this ethnic group.
Daneshmand
Siamak
S
Department of Urology, University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Dorff
Tanya B
TB
Quek
Marcus L
ML
Cai
Jie
J
Pike
Malcolm C
MC
Nichols
Peter W
PW
Pinski
Jacek
J
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D044465:White People
D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins