Neuro‐endocrine Cells—A New Prognostic Parameter in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Neuro-endocrine cells are a recognised component of prostatic ducts and acini. Half of all clinically manifest cancers show neuro-endocrine differentiation. Occult carcinomas have a lower incidence of such differentiation. Neuro-endocrine cells are of major prognostic importance and appear more reliable in predicting patients' survival than do conventional histological grading systems.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in prostatic tumours and its relationship to neuroendocrine cells

“…Neuroendocrine cells were found in 55% of the carcinoma specimens in this current study which is a similar incidence to that reported by other groups (Cohen et al, 1990). They express prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (Aprikian et al, 1993;Cohen et al, 1992) and are believed to represent a third epithelial type originating from a common stem cell.…”

“…Neuroendocrine cells, which are known to secrete a variety of peptides and biogenic amines (Di Sant'Agnese, 1992), have been found in 50% of prostate cancers (Di Sant'Agnese and de Mesey Jensen, 1987) and their presence indicates a poor prognosis in this malignancy (Cohen et al, 1991). In view of these findings, immunohistochemical assays were undertaken on consecutive sections of the prostatic tissue to determine the neuroendocrine cell distribution and to establish the coexpression of VEGF and chromogranin A in this particular cell type.…”

Prostatic carcinoma: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors

“…In contrast to benign epithelium, most reports on prostatic cancer tissue demonstrate heterogeneity in immunostaining of PAP and PSA and an apparent correlation between variation in stainability and tumour grade (Epstein & Eggleston, 1984;Sesterhenn et al, 1985;Feiner & Gonzales, 1986), which was also observed in our study. Like Sesterhenn et al (1985) and Feiner and Gonzales (1986) Mesy Jensen, 1987;Ro et al, 1987;Cohen et al, 1991), and it has been suggested that the demonstration of neuroendocrine features is an indicator of poor prognosis. Unlike di Sant'Agnese andde Mesy Jensen (1987) andCohen et al (1991), who used a series of different neuroendocrine markers, we applied only one monoclonal antibody raised against NSE, which may explain the lower scoring rate in our series (18%).…”

“…Like Sesterhenn et al (1985) and Feiner and Gonzales (1986) Mesy Jensen, 1987;Ro et al, 1987;Cohen et al, 1991), and it has been suggested that the demonstration of neuroendocrine features is an indicator of poor prognosis. Unlike di Sant'Agnese andde Mesy Jensen (1987) andCohen et al (1991), who used a series of different neuroendocrine markers, we applied only one monoclonal antibody raised against NSE, which may explain the lower scoring rate in our series (18%). Furthermore, neuroendocrine differentiation is mostly focal (Cohen et al, 1991) and small tissue specimens such as core biopsies may be inadequate in demonstrating such features.…”

“…Immunohistochemical demonstration of neuroendocrine features (di Sant'Agnese & de Mesy Jensen, 1987;Cohen et al, 1991), c-erbB-2 protein (Gullick et al, 1991;Reilly et al, 1991;Hale et al, 1992), p53 protein (Porter et al, 1992), prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) (Sakai et al, 1991), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (Hammond et al, 1989;Bazinet et al, 1992) and vimentin (Leong et al, 1988) has been related to tumour prognosis. However, at present there is no general agreement concerning the best combination of prognostic factors.…”