Different patterns of serum chromogranin A in patients with prostate cancer with and without undergoing hormonal therapy

Elevated serum chromogranin A (CgA) levels have been detected in patients w ith prostate cancer who have developed resistance to hormonal therapy. We w ould like to reexamine these cases by using serial specimens to determine w hether such elevated levels are also detectable in prostate cancer patients not undergoing hormonal therapy. Serum CgA was measured in both random and serial specimens from prostate ca ncer patients with and without undergoing hormonal therapy. We found that s erum CgA levels became elevated much earlier than did the levels of serum P SA in approximately one-third of prostate cancer patients developing resist ance to hormonal therapy. On the other hand, serum CgA levels became elevat ed at later, more advanced stages of the disease in patients not undergoing hormonal therapy. Elevated serum CgA levels were usually detected in speci mens containing highly elevated PSA. The early rise of serum CgA levels pro vides an early signal allowing a change of therapy to be made before the di sease progresses to a fatal stage. Drugs targeting neuroendocrine cells sho uld be considered for prostate cancer patients with elevated serum CgA leve ls. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 13:308-311, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.