Plasma Neuroendocrine Markers in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostatic Carcinoma (original) (raw)

Purpose: Approximately 50% of all malignant prostatic tumors contain neuroendocrine cells, which cannot be attributed to small cell prostatic carcinoma or carcinoid-like tumors, and which represent only 1 to 2% of all prostatic malignancies. Only limited data are available concerning the plasma levels of neurwndocrine markers in patients with prostatic tumors. Therefore, we determined the incidence of high plasma levels of neuroendocrine markers in patients with benign and malignant prostatic disease.