Evaluation of Serum and Seminal Plasma Markers in the Diagnosis of Canine Prostatic Disorders

Abstract

Serum and seminal plasma concentrations or activities of acid phosphatase (AP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) were measured in normal dogs, dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), dogs with bacterial prostatitis, and dogs with prostatic carcinoma t o determine if these assays would be of value in differentiating dogs with prostatic carcinoma from normal dogs, and dogs with other prostatic disorders. In addition, tissue sections of prostatic adenocarcinomas were stained with antiprostatic AP, anti-CPSE, and anti-PSA antibodies t o determine if these would be suitable immunohistochemical markers of prostatic carcinoma. Prostate-specific antigen was not detected in canine serum or seminal plasma. Serum and seminal AP activities did not differ significantly between normal dogs and those with prostatic diseases, or among dogs with different prostatic disorders. Serum CPSE activities were significantly higher in dogs with BPH than in normal dogs. Mean serum enign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic carci-B noma, and bacterial prostatitis can be difficult to differentiate in dogs because of similarities in clinical presentation, and laboratory and radiographic findings. A definitive diagnosis often requires prostatic biopsy, which is complicated by the relative inaccessibility of the prostate gland. In patients with prostatic carcinoma, inability to rapidly confirm the diagnosis may contribute to the poor prognosis typically associated with thisIn men with prostatic carcinoma, the use of serum markers such as acid phosphatase (AP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has facilitated diagnosis, determination of the extent of disease, evaluation of therapeutic response, and detection of relapse after the rap^.^.^ Prostate-specific antigen is a proteolytic glycoprotein found in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant human prostatic tissue. Increases in serum PSA concentrations have been reported in human patients with BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinomx8 In human patients with prostatic carcinoma, PSA concentrations correlate with the stage ofdisease, and serum activities of PSA are considered more sensitive than serum acid phosphatase activities for monitoring the disease.6 Acid phosphatase and PSA have been identified in normal, neoplastic, and hyperplastic canine prostatic epithelial cells. ' Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE), the major secretory product of the canine prostate gland, is similar to human PSA and, like PSA, is a serine protease. Although the proteins are closely related, they are clearly distinct from one another." Both CPSE and PSA are under hormonal regulation, and decreases in serum testosterone activities result in reduction in the serum and seminal plasma concentrations or activities.' ' 3 ' ' Canine prostate specific esterase has been identified in normal canine prostatic cells, in canine seminal fluid,I2-I5 and in hyperplastic and neoplastic prostatic tissue.' The esterase is predominantly localized to the apical portions of canin...

Models for studying benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…This is not the case in man which may explain why the hyperplasia is mainly epithelial in dogs and stromal in men. Furthermore, PSA was not detected in canine serum or seminal plasma from either normal dogs or dogs with BPH, 70 although it has been identi®ed in normal, neoplastic and hyperplastic canine prostatic epithelial cells. 71 However, canine prostate-speci®c esterase, the major secretory product of the canine prostate, increased in serum from dogs with BPH.…”

“…71 However, canine prostate-speci®c esterase, the major secretory product of the canine prostate, increased in serum from dogs with BPH. 70 This protein and PSA are distinctly different but functionally related proteins. 72 Despite the differences, the natural cause of hyperplasia is remarkably similar in the two species.…”

Métodos de diagnóstico para detecção de prostatopatias caninas

“…Da mesma forma, De MOURA et al (2006) destacam o aumento sérico e urinário dessa glicoproteína em função do tipo de hiperplasia, especialmente da forma complexa, apesar de não terem observado diferença estatística nas concentrações sérica e urinária de PAP entre animais com próstata normal e hiperplásica. De outra parte, BELL et al (1995) relatam que este marcador não foi significativamente diferencial em cães com HPB, prostatites e carcinomas prostáticos.…”

“…Apesar de estudos mostrarem imunorreatividade para o PSA humano em próstatas caninas, tanto normais quanto com câncer (ANIDJAR et al, 2001;AUMULLER et al, 1990;BELL et al, 1995;McENTEE et al, 1987;SORENMO et al, 2003), a presença dessa proteína no plasma e sua utilização para detecção de prostatopatias caninas permaneceu controversa. Diversos estudos foram realizados, porém, não foi possível determinar a presença do PSA por Southern blot (KARR et al, 1995) ou PCR em tempo real (AGGARWAL et al, 2006).…”

“…A presença de CPSE é órgão-específico, podendo ser proveitosa a sua utilização como um marcador da função prostática (ISAACS & SHAPER, 1983;ISAACS & COFFEY, 1984;BELL et al, 1995;DUBÉ et al, 1995).…”