Metastatic prostate cancer with normal level of serum prostate-specific antigen

Int Urol Nephrol. 2003;35(2):189-92. doi: 10.1023/b:urol.0000020306.08275.49.

Abstract

The clinical and pathological features of metastatic prostate cancer with normal level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were investigated. Four patients with metastatic prostate cancer had serum PSA within the normal range at the diagnosis. All tumors were poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Endocrine therapy was performed as the initial therapy in all patients. Despite subsequently treatment, all cases died of prostate cancer at 2, 8, 9 and 38 months. During disease progression, 3 of 4 patients had elevated serum markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA19-9, CA15-3, CA125, neuron-specific enolase and pro-gastrin releasing peptide. Immunohistochemical examination of the initial biopsy specimens revealed that 4 and 3 cases were positive for CEA and chromogranin A, respectively. In advanced prostate cancer patients with low PSA level, those markers may aid in the follow up of disease.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen