Heterogeneity in prostate cancer: prostate specific antigen (PSA) and DNA cytophotometry.
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.
Krause
F Steffen
FS
Department of Urology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. frens.steffen.krause@t-online.de
Feil
Gerhard
G
Bichler
Karl-Horst
KH
Schrott
Karl M
KM
Akcetin
Ziya Y
ZY
Engehausen
Dirk G
DG
D003592:Cytophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen