Prognostic Value of Circulating Chromogranin A in Prostate Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2025 Feb 20

PMID 39975592

Authors

Xiaoying Tang

Zhenyu Liu

Liangdong Song

Huixuan Zhu

Shuai Su

Delin Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There are discrepancies between the results of different studies regarding the prognostic role of circulating Chromogranin A (CgA) in prostate cancer. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the available findings to explore the value of circulating Chromogranin A in the prognosis of prostate cancer.

Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Clinical Trials databases for studies on the relationship between CgA and survival outcomes in prostate cancer from inception until December 2024, and we focused on articles detecting circulating CgA, with the primary endpoints of the studies being overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results: Of the 2049 articles retrieved, 10 articles met our inclusion criteria, involving a total of 1445 patients. Elevated circulating CgA was associated with poorer OS (HR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.38-2.41; p<0.001) and PFS (HR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.42-2.94; p<0.001). However, no correlation was found between post-treatment circulating CgA changes and OS (HR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.66-1.37; p=0.767).

Conclusion: Circulating CgA is a predictive marker of poor survival outcomes in prostate cancer However, the sample size of the current study is small and larger studies are needed to further validate this in the future.

References

Gong J, Lee J, Akio H, Schlegel P, Shen R . Attenuation of apoptosis by chromogranin A-induced Akt and survivin pathways in prostate cancer cells. Endocrinology. 2007; 148(9):4489-99. DOI: 10.1210/en.2006-1748. View

Mearini L, Zucchi A, Scarponi E, Nunzi E, Aglietti M, Bini V . Correlation between age and Chromogranin A determination in prostate diseases. Cancer Biomark. 2012; 10(3-4):117-23. DOI: 10.3233/CBM-2012-0237. View

Cheng Q, Butler W, Zhou Y, Zhang H, Tang L, Perkinson K . Pre-existing Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer-like Cells in Primary Prostate Cancer Promote Resistance to Hormonal Therapy. Eur Urol. 2022; 81(5):446-455. PMC: 9018600. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2021.12.039. View

Bollito E, Berruti A, Bellina M, Mosca A, Leonardo E, Tarabuzzi R . Relationship between neuroendocrine features and prognostic parameters in human prostate adenocarcinoma. Ann Oncol. 2002; 12 Suppl 2:S159-64. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/12.suppl_2.s159. View

Niedworok C, Tschirdewahn S, Reis H, Lehmann N, Szucs M, Nyirady P . Serum Chromogranin A as a Complementary Marker for the Prediction of Prostate Cancer-Specific Survival. Pathol Oncol Res. 2016; 23(3):643-650. DOI: 10.1007/s12253-016-0171-5. View

Lewis A, Costello B, Quevedo F, Pagliaro L, Sanhueza C, Weinshilboum R . Dynamic assessment of serum chromogranin A and treatment response with abiraterone acetate in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate. 2023; 83(7):649-655. PMC: 11537207. DOI: 10.1002/pros.24498. View

Conteduca V, Scarpi E, Salvi S, Casadio V, Lolli C, Gurioli G . Plasma androgen receptor and serum chromogranin A in advanced prostate cancer. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):15442. PMC: 6194135. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33774-4. View

Hirano D, Okada Y, Minei S, Takimoto Y, Nemoto N . Neuroendocrine differentiation in hormone refractory prostate cancer following androgen deprivation therapy. Eur Urol. 2004; 45(5):586-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2003.11.032. View

Mahata S, Corti A . Chromogranin A and its fragments in cardiovascular, immunometabolic, and cancer regulation. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019; 1455(1):34-58. PMC: 6899468. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14249. View

10.

Masieri L, Lanciotti M, Gontero P, Marchioro G, Mantella A, Zaramella S . The prognostic role of preoperative chromogranin A expression in prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2012; 84(1):17-21. View

11.

Berruti A, Mosca A, Porpiglia F, Bollito E, Tucci M, Vana F . Chromogranin A expression in patients with hormone naïve prostate cancer predicts the development of hormone refractory disease. J Urol. 2007; 178(3 Pt 1):838-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2007.05.018. View

12.

Han M, Li F, Zhang Y, Dai P, He J, Li Y . FOXA2 drives lineage plasticity and KIT pathway activation in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Cancer Cell. 2022; 40(11):1306-1323.e8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.10.011. View

13.

Berruti A, Dogliotti L, Mosca A, Gorzegno G, Bollito E, Mari M . Potential clinical value of circulating chromogranin A in patients with prostate carcinoma. Ann Oncol. 2002; 12 Suppl 2:S153-7. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/12.suppl_2.s153. View

14.

Page M, McKenzie J, Bossuyt P, Boutron I, Hoffmann T, Mulrow C . The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372:n71. PMC: 8005924. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n71. View

15.

von Hardenberg J, Schwartz M, Werner T, Fuxius S, Muller M, Frangenheim T . Prospective Evaluation of Neuromediator Dynamics in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients During Docetaxel. Anticancer Res. 2017; 37(9):5117-5124. DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.11931. View

16.

Berruti A, Mosca A, Tucci M, Terrone C, Torta M, Tarabuzzi R . Independent prognostic role of circulating chromogranin A in prostate cancer patients with hormone-refractory disease. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2005; 12(1):109-17. DOI: 10.1677/erc.1.00876. View

17.

Marszalek M, Wachter J, Ponholzer A, Leitha T, Rauchenwald M, Madersbacher S . Insulin-like growth factor 1, chromogranin A and prostate specific antigen serum levels in prostate cancer patients and controls. Eur Urol. 2005; 48(1):34-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2005.03.020. View

18.

Vashchenko N, Abrahamsson P . Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer: implications for new treatment modalities. Eur Urol. 2005; 47(2):147-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2004.09.007. View

19.

Pinsky P, Parnes H . Screening for Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2023; 388(15):1405-1414. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcp2209151. View

20.

McKeithen D, Graham T, Chung L, Odero-Marah V . Snail transcription factor regulates neuroendocrine differentiation in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Prostate. 2010; 70(9):982-92. PMC: 2877267. DOI: 10.1002/pros.21132. View