Study Spotlight: Chromogranin A as a Potential Prognostic Marker for CRPC Patients

Epitope Diagnostics’ EDI Human Chromogranin A ELISA Kit was recently used by a research group lead by Dr. Ugo De Giorgi to publish two key papers highlighting another aspect of the relationship between chromogranin A (CgA) and prostate cancer. 

The two papers, published by Conteduca et al and Burgio et al, examined patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who had received previous docetaxel chemotherapy treatment. Using the range established by the EDI Chromogranin A ELISA Kit, the patients were divided into three groups based on baseline CgA levels: normal CgA (<120 ug/ml), under 3 time normal (<360 ug/ml), and above 3 time normal (>360 ug/ml). 

Prostate specific antigen was then monitored as the patients received antiandrogen treatment, either with abiraterone or enzalutamide, in order to track the progression free survival. 

In the group treated with abiraterone, a statistically significant difference was discovered between the median progression free survival rate of those with normal CgA (group A), under 3 times normal CgA (group B), and above 3 times normal CgA (group C). Similarly, there was also a statistically significant difference in PFS among the three CgA groups in patients treated with enzalutamide.

These results showed that serum CgA may act as a practical predictor of disease prognosis in patients with CRPC upon treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide. While these studies were small, the results are encouraging of further expanded study of the relationship between CgA and prostate cancer. 

CgA is a 439 kDa glycoprotein. The circulating molecular form of CgA is heterogeneous. Common CgA assays employ antibodies with variable CgA-specific epitopes, leading to the detection of different CgA molecules, as well as different cut-offs for normal range. The molecular form related to prostate cancer is not well known. We are pleased to see the consistent clinical results yielded by the EDI Chromogranin A ELISA Kit in this study. It is encouraging to see that this kit may have a potential role in future clinical management of CRPC patient, leading to better monitoring and possibly improved survival rate. 

Epitope Diagnostics is committed to producing high quality diagnostic kits that may aid in making new discoveries and supporting human health. We are happy that our chromogranin A kit played a role in the establishment of these results.  

For more information regarding all our chromogranin A kit options, click here.

References:

Burgio SL, Conteduca V, Menna C, Carretta E, Rossi L, Bianchi E, Kopf B, Fabbri F, Amadori D, & De Giorgi U. 2014. Chromogranin A predicts outcome in prostate cancer tatients treated with abiraterone. Society for Endocrinology. 21:3. 487-493. (doi:10.1530/ERC-14-0071)
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Conteduca V, Burgio SL, Menna C, Carretta E, Rossi L, Biachi E, Masini C, Amadori D, & De Giorgi U. 2014. Chromogranin A is a Potential Prognostic Marker in Prostate Cancer Patients treated with Enzalutamide. The Prostate. 74:1691-1696. (doi:10.1002/pros.22890)