title: Heterogeneity in prostate cancer: prostate specific antigen (PSA) and DNA cytophotometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The heterogeneity in prostate cancer is the reason for the difficult diagnosis and prognosis of this tumor. In this study, we looked for a correlation between prostate specific antigen (PSA), tumor staging and DNA cytophotometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two prostates (pT1-T4) from patients with prostate cancer, who underwent radical prostatectomy, were examined. Preoperative PSA and postoperative DNA image cytometry, after 2-8 needle biopsies out of each organ, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prostate cancer tissues showed, in DNA stemline-interpretation according to Fu, in homogenous diploid tumors an average PSA level of 3.8 ng/ml, and, in homogenous aneuploid tumors, a level of 14.0 ng/ml. Tumors with heterogeneous DNA patterns with a majority of aneuploidy had an average PSA level of 85.6 ng/ml, and heterogeneous tissues with a majority of diploidy a level of 10.9 ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only the stemline-interpretation of Fu after DNA cytophotometry is efficient for diagnosis of prostate cancer, and allows prognostic statements of the disease.
authors: Department of Urology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. frens.steffen.krause@t-online.de
authors: F Steffen
authors: FS
authors: Krause
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Feil
authors: Karl-Horst
authors: KH
authors: Bichler
authors: Karl M
authors: KM
authors: Schrott
authors: Ziya Y
authors: ZY
authors: Akcetin
authors: Dirk G
authors: DG
authors: Engehausen
mesh_terms: D003592:Cytophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen