[Immunohistochemical algorithms in prostate diagnostics: what's new?]

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry has become an indispensible tool in biopsy diagnostics of prostate tissues. In particular the use of basal cell markers can be useful to differentiate benign and malignant lesions as a lack of basal cells is considered a hallmark of malignancy. Basal cell cytokeratins and p63 have therefore a long standing place in the diagnostic portfolio of most genito-urinary pathologists. However, to complement the use of these negative markers by additional positive immunohistochemistry markers of malignancy would be desirable to further increase diagnostic accuracy. The most widely used positive marker is alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), which is strongly upregulated in prostate cancer and which can even be combined with p63 in a single immunostaining. This article briefly and critically reviews current diagnostic prostate cancer biomarkers and also suggests golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) as additional diagnostic markers.