Abstract
A 26-year-old male presented with a colorectal adenocarcinoma with germ-cell differentiation and an isolated elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein. He was treated with platinum/etoposide/bleomycin chemotherapy with a decrease in serum alpha-fetoprotein and in the size of the primary tumor. An ongoing tumor-marker response occurred when the patient was switched to concurrent 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The patient underwent a palliative diversion of his rectal cancer 10 months after diagnosis, developed liver metastasis at 12 months, and died 20 months after diagnosis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Metz K, Leder L. Adenocarcinoma of the colon with syncytiotrophoblastic differentiation: differential diagnosis and implications. Path Res Pract 1985; 179:419–24.
Kubosawa H, Nagoa K, Kondo Y, Ishige H, Inaba N. Coexistence of adenocarcinoma and choriocarcinoma in the sigmoid colon. Cancer 1984;54:866–8.
Ordonez N, Luna M. Choriocarcinoma of the colon. Am J Gastroenterol 1984;79:39–42.
Nguyen GK. Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon with focal choriocarcinoma metaplasia: a case report. Dis Colon Rectum 1982;25:230–4.
Park C, Reid J. Adenocarcinoma of the colon with choriocarcinoma in its metastasis. Cancer 1980;46:570–5.
Ostor A, McNaoughton W, Fortune D, Rischin D, Hillcoat- B, Riley C. Rectal adenocarcinoma with germ cell elements treated with chemotherapy. Pathology 1993; 25:243–6.
Yu Y, Ogino T, Okada S. An alpha-fetoprotein producing carcinoma of the rectum. Acta Pathol Jpn 1992;42:684–7.
Mclntire K, Waldman T, Moetel C,et al. Serum alphafetoprotein in patients with neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer Res 1975;35:991–6.
Tsung S. Alpha-fetoprotein in lung cancer metastatic to the liver. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1975;99:267–9.
Morimoto H, Tanigawa N, Inoue H, Muraoka R, Hosokawa Y, Hattori T. Alpha-fetoprotein producing renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 1988;6l:84–8.
Taguchi J, Yano H, Sueda J, Yamaguchi R, Kojiro M, Shirozu G, Hashimoto K. Alpha-fetoprotein producing rectal carcinoma. Kurume Med J 1997;44:339–48.
Kato K, Matsuda M, Ingu A,et al. Colon cancer with a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Am J Gastroenterol 1996;91:1045–6.
Sato Y, Takeshi S, Ohwada S. Alpha-fetoprotein producing rectal cancer: calculated tumor marker doubling time. J Surg Pathol 1994;55:265–8.
Sato H, Maruta M, Kuromizu J,et al. A case of alphafetoprotein producing rectal carcinoma. Jpn J Gastroenterol 1993: 90:3046–51.
Nakajima T, Okazaki N, Morinaga S, Tsumuraya M, Shimosato Y, Saiki S. A case of alpha-fetoprotein producing rectal carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol 1985;15:679–85.
Noda H, Maetani S, Tobe T, Nohara T. A case of alphafetoprotein producing rectal cancer. J Jpn Surg Soc 1984;85:6l6–20.
Taketa K, Sekiya C, Namiki M,et al. Lectin-reactive profiles of alpha-fetoprotein characterizing hepatocellular carcinoma and related conditions. Gastroenterology 1990: 99:508–18.
Ishikura H, Kirimoto K, Shamoto M,et al. Hepatoid adenocarcinomas of the stomach. An analysis of seven cases. Cancer 1986;58:119–26.
Matsuta M, Ishikura H, Murakami K, Kagabu T, Nishiya I. Hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary, a case report. Int J Gynecol Pathol 1991;10:302–10.
Hocking G, Ostor A, Shembray M, Hay D. Alpha-fetoprotein producing adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon with possible hepatoid differentiation. Pathology 1995: 27:277–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Coleman, T.A., Redger, C.D., Hamill, R.L. et al. Rectal adenocarcinoma with germ-cell differentiation. Dis Colon Rectum 46, 1702–1705 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02660779
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02660779