Neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Abstract

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a highly aggressive subtype of prostate cancer that may either arise de novo or much more commonly after hormonal therapy for prostate adenocarcinoma. It is estimated that up to 30 % of late stage prostate cancers harbor a predominance of neuroendocrine differentiation [1]. However, due to a general lack of biopsy diagnoses for advanced disease, this may underrepresent the frequency of neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC). Since androgen deprivation therapy promotes the development of NEPC, its incidence is anticipated to escalate with the introduction of new potent hormonal agents into the clinical arena.