<h3>Background</h3> Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death in men after lung cancer in the world. Differentiation of prostate adenocarcinoma from benign prostate lesions and hyperplasia sometimes cannot be done on the basis of morphological findings. As there is no basal cell layer in prostate adenocarcinoma, basal cell markers could help to differentiate prostate adenocarcioma from cancer mimickers. <h3>Methods</h3> We studied 98 prostate biopsies (40 adenocarcinoma and 58 benign lesions) for expression of basal cell markers. <h3>Findings</h3> P63 and 34<i>β</i>E12 were negative in all prostate adenocarcinoma specimens, but all benign prostate hyperplasia and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia cases expressed them. <h3>Interpretation</h3> Basal cell markers can help to distinguish prostate adenocarcioma from cancer mimickers.