OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of chromogranin A (CgA) levels and the risk of poorly differentiated prostate cancer (CaP) in men undergoing prostate biopsy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2012, we prospectively enrolled 1,018 men with no history of CaP undergoing prostate biopsy. The risk of detecting poorly differentiated CaP as a function of CgA concentration was evaluated using crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Further analyses were performed to determine whether CgA was a significant predictor of high-grade CaP in men with low PSA (< 10 ng/ml).
RESULTS: We found a significantly higher level of CgA in men with poorly differentiated CaP. CgA was however co-linear with age, and serum CgA levels were not significantly associated with the overall risk of CaP, and the specific risk of poorly differentiated CaP (OR 1.001 95% CI 0.99-1.01, P = 0.74). Moreover, in men with low PSA levels (< 10 ng/ml), CgA was not a significant predictor of high grade-disease on univariate (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.01; P = 0.66) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.85).
CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients, the serum level of CgA is not a significant predictor of poorly differentiated CaP on initial prostate biopsy, even in men with low PSA levels (< 10 ng/ml). According to our experience, CgA should not be considered a reliable marker to predict poorly differentiate cancer in the setting of initial prostate biopsy.
Written by:
De Nunzio C, Albisinni S, Presicce F, Lombardo R, Cancrini F, Tubaro A. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Andrea, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Reference: Urol Oncol. 2012 Nov 12. pii: S1078-1439(12)00254-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2012.07.012
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23153859
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