Low-serum testosterone and high-chromogranin A rare case associated with high-grade prostate cancer and higher pathological stages of the disease
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: CgA and testosterone are two serum markers that may be involved in prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of testosterone and CgA to grades and stages of prostate cancer, particularly whether low-serum testosterone and high-serum CgA are associated with more aggressive grades, and higher pathological stages of the disease.
METHODS: This perspective study included 121 men (Caucasian only) presenting with -newly-diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer. All the patients underwent radical prostatectomy.
RESULTS: We subdivided the sample into two homogeneous groups, Group A with Gleason score ≤7 (3+4), and Group B with Gleason score ≥7 (4+3). Low testosterone (< 3 ng/ml) was most common among the members of Group B 80 % versus 12.6 % of Group A (p = 0.001). At the same time, elevated CgA (> 80 ng/ml) was present for a rate of 72 % in Group B, 28.1% in the Group A ( p = 0.001). The multivariate analysis we used revealed that low-serum testosterone and high-serum CgA are associated with higher pathological stages of the disease (p = 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The principal findings of this investigation were that low testosterone is correlated with elevated CgA levels, and these two parameters are associated with more aggressive grades and higher pathological stages of prostatic adenocarcinoma.