Neuroendocrine differentiation and prognosis in prostatic adenocarcinoma

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic importance of neuroendocrine differentiation in conventional (non-small cell) prostatic adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-two samples from patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were studied retrospectively. The immunohistochemical analysis of chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase in formalin-fixed, paraffin wax embedded prostatic tissue chips was related to other prognostic variables and patient survival. RESULTS: Neuroendocrine differentiation was detected in 48 cases; there was a significant correlation with worsening tumour differentiation, the presence of bone metastases and with worsening survival, but no independent effect of neuroendocrine differentiation on survival. CONCLUSION: The detection of neuroendocrine differentiation in conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma is not an independent indicator of prognosis.