THE EFFECT OF ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION ON MALIGNANT AND BENIGN PROSTATE TISSUE

The purpose of this research was to describe the changes in marker exp ression and histologic morphology following androgen deprivation in ma lignant and benign human prostates. Fourteen patients receiving pre-ra dical prostatectomy total androgen deprivation had pre- and post-andro gen deprivation evaluation of marker expression and histologic morphol ogy (both malignant and benign). Marker expression was significantly r educed for serum (p<0.0001) and tissue (p<0.004) PSA as well as bcl-2 expression (p<0.008). There were significant histologic increases in v acuolization (p<0.001), pyknosis (p<0.04), fibrosis (p<0.01) and lymph ocytic infiltration (p<0.008) in the malignant tissue. There were sign ificant increases in squamous metaplasia (p<0.0002), fibrosis (p<0.000 5), basal cell hypertrophy (p<0.0005) and lymphocytic infiltration (p< 0.0002) in the benign tissue. Androgen deprivation therapy produces si gnificant changes in marker expression and morphology in prostate spec imens. At times these iatrogenic changes can be confusing. Clinicians and pathologists must be aware of these changes.