Small cell carcinoma of the prostate: molecular basis and clinical implications

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate (PSCC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Most patients present with advanced disease, including metastases to bone, viscera, and the central nervous system. Histologically, PSCC is indistinguishable from its pulmonary counterpart. Although PSCC may occur in pure form, as in small cell lung carcinoma, it also occurs in conjunction with conventional glandular prostate carcinoma, and may evolve from conventional adenocarcinoma during the course of hormonal therapy. Immunohistochemical staining is extremely helpful in establishing the diagnosis, a prerequisite, as in small cell lung cancer, for optimal therapeutic strategy. Currently, combinations of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy represent the main treatment options. Improvement in survival may depend upon the identification of new molecular markers to facilitate earlier diagnosis and the development of novel targeted therapies. This review will discuss general aspects of PSCC, focusing on ways in which our understanding of PSCC has been advanced by studies of the histopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular alterations in this disease.