title: Distribution of high chromogranin A serum levels in patients with nonmetastatic and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed the incidence of elevated serum levels of chromogranin A (CgA) (as marker of neuroendocrine activity) in nonmetastatic and metastatic prostate cancer populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  264 consecutive men with nonmetastatic prostate adenocarcinoma considered for radical prostatectomy (group 1) and 89 consecutive men with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma (group 2) represented our population. In all 353 cases a blood sample for the determination of serum total PSA and CgA levels was obtained (RIA). Two different cut-off for elevated serum CgA levels were used: >60 and >90 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 1, 35.0% of cases presented CgA levels >60 ng/ml and 6.4% >90 ng/ml. In group 2, 100% of cases presented CgA levels >60 ng/ml and 69.7% >90 ng/ml. The OR for CgA level >60 and >90 ng/ml significantly increased from nonmetastatic to metastatic cases (p = 0.0001). In group 1 the percentage of cases with CgA >60 ng/ml was 29.6% in Gleason score <or=7 (3 + 4) and 46.4% in Gleason score >or=7 (4 + 3) (p = 0.0001). In group 2, the percentage of cases with CgA >90 ng/ml was 51.8% in Gleason score <or=7 (3 + 4) and 77.4% in Gleason score >or=7 (4 + 3) (p = 0.0028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe a significant incidence of elevated serum levels of CgA either in nonmetastatic (using 60 ng/ml as cut-off) or in metastatic (using 90 ng/ml as cut-off) prostate adenocarcinoma cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Silverio
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Autran
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salciccia
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentilucci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfarone
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile