Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc
Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc
Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc
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Neuroendocrine tumours<br />
P.A. di Sant’Agnese<br />
L. Egevad<br />
J.I. <strong>Epstein</strong><br />
B. Helpap<br />
P.A. Humphrey<br />
R.Montironi<br />
M.A. Rubin<br />
W.A. Sakr<br />
P.H. Tan<br />
A<br />
B<br />
Fig. 3.82 A, B Adenocarcinoma with fine eosinophilic granules indicating neuroendocrine differentiation.<br />
Definition<br />
Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic<br />
carcinoma has three forms:<br />
1. Focal neuroendocrine differentiation in<br />
conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma<br />
2. Carcinoid tumour (WHO well differentiated<br />
neuroendocrine tumour) and<br />
3. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma<br />
(new WHO classification poorly differentiated<br />
neuroendocrine carcinoma)<br />
ICD-O codes<br />
Focal neuroendocrine differentiation in<br />
prostatic adenocarcinoma 8574/3<br />
Carcinoid 8240/3<br />
Small cell carcinoma 8041/3<br />
Focal neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation in prostatic<br />
adenocarcinoma<br />
All prostate cancers show focal neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation, although the<br />
majority shows only rare or sparse single<br />
neuroendocrine cells as demonstrated<br />
by neuroendocrine markers. In 5-10% of<br />
prostatic carcinomas there are zones<br />
with a large number of single or clustered<br />
neuroendocrine cells detected by chromogranin<br />
A immunostaining {29,31,272,<br />
609-611,1016,1064,1066}. A subset of<br />
these neuroendocrine cells may also be<br />
serotonin positive. Immunostaining for<br />
neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin,<br />
bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide and<br />
a variety of other neuroendocrine peptides<br />
may also occur in individual neoplastic<br />
neuroendocrine cells, or in a more<br />
diffuse pattern {1178} and receptors for<br />
serotonin {16} and neuroendocrine peptides<br />
{1017,2537} may also be present.<br />
Vascular endothelial growth factor<br />
(VEGF) may also be expressed in foci of<br />
neuroendorine differentiation {1026}. The<br />
definitional context of these other neuroendocrine<br />
elements (other than chromogranin<br />
A and serotonin) remains to be<br />
elucidated. There are conflicting studies<br />
as to whether advanced androgen<br />
deprived and androgen independent<br />
carcinomas show increased neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation {446,1185,1222,<br />
1395,1822,2582}.<br />
The prognostic significance of focal neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation in primary<br />
untreated prostatic carcinoma is controversial<br />
with some showing an independent<br />
negative effect on prognosis<br />
{267,478,2802}, while others have not<br />
shown a prognostic relationship {30,<br />
335,384,1915,2352,2465}. In advanced<br />
prostate cancer, especially androgen<br />
independent cancer, focal neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation portends a poor<br />
prognosis {446,1222,1395,2582} and<br />
may be a therapeutic target {228,2317,<br />
2918}. Serum chromogranin A levels<br />
(and potentially other markers such as<br />
pro-gastin-releasing peptide) {2537,<br />
2582,2853,2802,2871} may be diagnostically<br />
and prognostically useful, particularly<br />
in PSA negative, androgen independent<br />
carcinomas {227,1183,1500,<br />
2871,2918}.<br />
Carcinoid tumours<br />
True carcinoid tumours of the prostate,<br />
which meets the diagnostic criteria for<br />
carcinoid tumour elsewhere are exceedingly<br />
rare {609,2472,2583}. These<br />
tumours show classic cytologic features<br />
of carcinoid tumour and diffuse neuroendocrine<br />
differentiation (chromogranin A<br />
and synaptophysin immunoreativity).<br />
They should be essentially negative for<br />
PSA. The prognosis is uncertain due to<br />
the small number of reported cases. The<br />
Fig. 3.83 Chromogranin positivity in adenocarcinoma<br />
with eosinophilic granules.<br />
Basal cell carcoma / Neuroendocrine tumours<br />
207