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De novo neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in primary prostate cancer–a phenotype associated with advanced clinico-pathologic features and aggressive outcome

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Abstract

Neuroendocrine transdifferentiation of high-grade prostate cancer (PCA-NT) comprises a morphologic and immunophenotypic transition from conventional adenocarcinoma towards high-grade neuroendocrine/small cell carcinoma. This phenomenon is frequently observed post androgen deprivation and/or radiotherapy, but de novo instances are increasingly recognized. Herein, we report a series of de novo PCA-NT focusing on characteristic morphologic, immunophenotypic and clinical features. Treatment naïve PCA-NT were identified. IHC for PSA, NKX3.1, Chromogranin, Synaptophysin, Cyclin D1, RB and Ki67 were performed. Radiology, treatment and follow-up data were reviewed. Sixteen patients were included. Apart from focal areas of high-grade prostate cancer with acinar features (reminiscent of Grade Group 5 disease), extensive areas with sheets of cells with deep amphophilic/basophilic cytoplasm, enlarged, hyperchromatic nuclei with granular chromatin and inconspicuous to prominent nucleoli with high mitotic activity were identified. Immunohistochemistry showed patchy NKX3.1, patchy PSA, variable Synaptophysin and Chromogranin; RB and CyclinD1 showed loss of expression. Ki67 showed high proliferative index, in most cases. Adverse radiologic findings and metastases were documented in most cases. Two patients died of disease. De novo PCA-NT exhibits high-grade nuclei, high mitotic activity, reduced PSA expression with high Ki67 and functional inactivation of RB1 pathway, suggesting transition from androgen-driven to proliferation-driven phenotype. Most cases presented at advanced stage with adverse radiological findings, metastasis at time of diagnosis, and high mortality. In light of their prognostic and therapeutic implications, pathologists may need to maintain a sensitive threshold for performing immunostains–in particular, Ki67 and CyclinD1–when presented with such cases in their day to day clinical practice.

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 35, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Eman Abdulfatah, Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Vipulkumar Dadhania, Xiaoming Wang, Rahul Mannan, Lakshmi P. Kunju, Aaron M. Udager & Rohit Mehra

  2. Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Zachery R. Reichert, Ajjai S. Alva, Ulka N. Vaishampayan & Joshi J. Alumkal

  3. Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Matthew S. Davenport, Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Brent K. Hollenbeck, Jeffrey S. Montgomery, Samuel D. Kaffenberger, Todd M. Morgan & Ganesh S. Palapattu

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Matthew S. Davenport

  5. Rogel Cancer Center, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Ajjai S. Alva, Ulka N. Vaishampayan, Joshi J. Alumkal, Aaron M. Udager & Rohit Mehra

  6. Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Xiaoming Wang, Rahul Mannan, Joshi J. Alumkal, Aaron M. Udager & Rohit Mehra

  7. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Arul M. Chinnaiyan

  8. Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Ganesh S. Palapattu

  9. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Daniel E. Spratt

Authors
  1. Eman Abdulfatah
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  2. Zachery R. Reichert
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  3. Matthew S. Davenport
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  5. Vipulkumar Dadhania
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  6. Xiaoming Wang
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  7. Rahul Mannan
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  8. Lakshmi P. Kunju
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  9. Brent K. Hollenbeck
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  10. Jeffrey S. Montgomery
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  11. Samuel D. Kaffenberger
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  12. Todd M. Morgan
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  15. Ulka N. Vaishampayan
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  18. Aaron M. Udager
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  19. Rohit Mehra
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Contributions

EA—acquisition of data, interpretation of data and writing up the manuscript. ZR, AC, VD, RM, LK, BH, SK, TM, JM, AA, GP, UV, JA, DS—contribution to design, revising it critically for important intellectual content. MD—contribution to design and acquisition of data. AU—Contribution to the concept and design, revising it critically and final approval of the version to be published. RM—Senior author, corresponding author, contribution to the concept and design, final approval of the version to be published.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rohit Mehra.

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Conflict of interest

The University of Michigan has been issued a patent on the detection of ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer, on which Rohit Mehra and Arul M. Chinnaiyan are listed as co-inventors. All other authors have no relevant disclosures.

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Abdulfatah, E., Reichert, Z.R., Davenport, M.S. et al. De novo neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in primary prostate cancer–a phenotype associated with advanced clinico-pathologic features and aggressive outcome. Med Oncol 38, 26 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-021-01473-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-021-01473-2

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