Objectives: We analyzed the incidence of elevated serum levels of chromogranin A (CgA) (as marker of neuroendocrine activity) in nonmetastatic and metastatic prostate cancer populations.
Material and 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.
Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.