Does anyone know if there are any blood tests that would indicate whether the cancer has spread and become neuroendocrine? My husband has monthly PSA and Chromogranin A blood tests . PSA remains undetectable but Chroma A is creeping up but still low. His oncologist is not keen on extra scanning but without this how do we check for any progression that isn't indicated by the PSA level? Are there other blood tests that would give us a clue?
Thank you.
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NickJoy
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The biopsy histology of the prostate showed a large % of neuroendocrine cells but the diagnosis was adenocarcinoma - we just wondered if there was any way of checking if there was progression as his PSA has always been low and I thought I had read that annual scans were suggested but I wasn't sure where I read it. The last scan was over a year ago.
I am guessing from your wording that since the diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, that your prostate cancer cells are showing neuroendocrine differentiation and are not fully neuroendocrine? That is the state I'm in and we are watching Chromogranin A, doing biopsies, and doing FDG PET since that will show both prostate and neuroendocrine-differentiated cells that are gobbling up sugar. PSMA PET will show up prostate cancer cells that are exhibiting PSMA, but that's not always going to highlight the neuroendocrine side.
Agree that scans at least annually should be done. PSMA PET is best if your cancer is at all PSMA avid. Perhaps Axumen if not? Otherwise bone scan and CT are standard.
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