Small cell carcinoma of the prostate

Abstract

This report details clinical and pathologic aspects of a patient with small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the prostate and systemic hyperglucagonemia. A panel of potential serologic markers was evaluated in order to document additional evidence of ectopic hormonal production. Immunocytochemical markers were sought in tissue samples from the primary neoplasm and a lung metastasis. Stains were positive for corticotropin (ACTH) and gastrin in both the prostate and in the lung, but no evidence of excess secretion was documented. These findings are consistent with the notion that neuroendocrine activity is common in undifferentiated small cell carcinomas, regardless of their site of origin.

Prostate cancer with small-cell morphology: An immunophenotypic subdivision

“…It is interesting that various hormones (serotonin, somatostatin, calcitonin, ACTH, human chorionic gonadotrophin, thyroidstimulating hormone, calcitonin gene-related peptide, parathyroid hormone-related protein and bombesin) can be revealed immunohistochemically. In various studies, the proportion of hormonal expression was as follows: 30% for ACTH, 18% for Cal, 50% for Ser, 50% for Gas, 100% for vasoactive intestinal peptide, 50% for bombesin, 50% for antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and 33% for somatostatin [6,18,21,22]. These percentages are not absolutely reliable because they concern, in the majority of cases, small numbers of patients or isolated cases.…”

Androgen-deprivation therapy-induced aggressive prostate cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation

“…Nonetheless, CRPC is still a form of adenocarcinoma and the tumor cells still show nuclear localization of AR and PSA production, suggesting that AR signaling is still active and likely critical at this stage of the disease 12. A smaller percentage of patients will recur with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) which has a different phenotype 3. Because most CRPCs still appear to be AR-driven, newer agents have been developed to inhibit intratumoral androgen production (e.g.…”

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate

“…1,2,7 Primary SCC of the prostate is considered rare; only 27 cases of primary prostatic SCC were treated at the Mayo Clinic in 30 years.' SCC of the prostate presents either as primary carcinoma or in the form of metastatic disease in liver, lung, and brain.6,9-11 Some of the cases reported were diagnosed because of hormonal activity resulting in paraneoplastic syndromes; the most common of these is Cushing's syndrome as a result of ectopic ACTH production.…”