Basal cell cocktail (34bE12 + p63) for the detection of prostatic basal cells

A cocktail of 34bE12 and p63 may be superior to either alone in demonstrating the presence of basal cells within prostatic glands. This study involved assessing approximately 150 glands in each of nine transurethral resections1:

	complete circumferential			partial circumferential			negative
	strong	moderate	weak	strong	moderate	weak	negative
p63	81	9	4	1	2	1	2
34bE12	55	19	8	4	4	7	6
cocktail	93	3	0	1	1	0	2

The mean intensity of staining is also highest using the cocktail. The use of the cocktail does not increase the detection of aberrant expression of basal cell markers in poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma. It should be noted that urothelial carcinoma, which enters the differential of poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma expresses both p63 and 34bE12; PSA and PSAP should be included in the diagnostic panel.

References

1Zhou, M., Shah, R., Shen, R. and Rubin, M.A. Basal Cell Cocktail (34betaE12 + p63) Improves the Detection of Prostate Basal Cells. Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27:365-71.

This page last revised 22.9.2006.