[Expression of endocrine-paracrine cells in prostatic carcinoma]

Endocrine-Paracrine cells (EP cells) in prostatic carcinomas were screened by immunohistochemical tests for neuron specific enolase, chromogranin, and serotonin and by Grimelius method. Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 60 prostatic carcinomas were used. EP cells were detected in 16 cases (27%). The number of EP cells in hormone independent prostatic carcinomas were significantly larger than hormone dependent (p less than 0.05) and latent prostatic carcinomas (p less than 0.01). Five cases of prostatic carcinomas with abundant EP cell proliferation died of widespread metastases within 4 years, irrespective of hormone treatment. The pathologic finding was classified into the category of adenocarcinoma, partly showing carcinoid or small cell carcinoma-like features. EP cells were found in perineural invading cancer cells and also immunoreactive to both prostate specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase. It is suggested that the proliferation of EP cells in prostatic carcinomas is related with the sensitivity to hormone treatment.