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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

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