Immunohistochemical characterization of neuroendocrine cells in prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Neuroendocrine (NE) cells increase in high grade/stage prostate cancer (PC) and may contribute to androgen-independent cancer. Their immunohistochemical phenotype has not been studied in detail and conflicting results have been reported.


METHODS
PC tissue was stained immunohistochemically for luminal secretory cell-associated cytokeratin, basal cell markers, ki-67, androgen receptor (AR), PSA, prostate acid phosphatase (PAP), and alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase (AMACR).


RESULTS
The NE cells are positive for AE1/AE3, Cam 5.2, and negative for basal cell markers. They are negative for AR, PSA, and Ki-67 but positive for PAP. The benign NE cells are negative for AMACR while the malignant NE cells are positive for AMACR.


CONCLUSIONS
NE cells of PC constitute a unique subset of cancer cells, which have a unique immunohistochemical profile. They do not express AR, consistent with their resistance to hormonal therapy. They are post-mitotic cells but are malignant and part of the tumor.
Huang
Jiaoti
J
Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. Jiaoti_Huang@urmc.rochester.edu
Yao
Jorge L
JL
di Sant'Agnese
P Anthony
PA
Yang
Qi
Q
Bourne
Patricia A
PA
Na
Yanqun
Y
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D007633:Keratins; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; C108352:alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase