Summary
An autopsy was performed of a patient who succumbed to pancreatic carcinoma and in whom an unusually high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (84,000 ng/ml) was obtained. An immunohistochemical approach, utilizing the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, proved that AFP was confined within pancreatic carcinomatous cells of the primary lesion and liver metastases. No AFP-positive cells were ever observed in the hepatocytes adjacent to the metastatic lesions in the liver. It may be inferred that, in this particular case, the carcinomatous cells themselves synthesize AFP. The sites of production of AFP in AFP-positive pancreatic carcinoma were discussed in a review of the literature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tatarinov YS: Detection of embryospecific α1-globulin in the blood sera of patients with primary liver tumor. Vopr Med Khim 1964, 10: 90
Alpert E, et al: Alpha-fetoprotein in a patient with gastric carcinoma metastatic to the liver. N Engl J Med 1971, 285: 1058
Kato K, et al: Fetoprotein-positive cases in cancer except for hepatoma and malignant teratoma mainly on the sum up data in Japan. Jpn J Cancer Clin 1974, 20: 376 (Jpn)
Kudo Y, et al: Serum alphα-fetoprotein and metastatic carcinoma of the liver. Jpn J Liver 1974, 15: 548 (Jpn)
Podolsky DK: Serologie markers in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic carcinoma. World J Surg 1984 8: 822
Bernades P, et al: Présence de l’alpha1-foeto-protéine sérique dans quatre cas de cancers digestifs primitifs autres que l’hépatome. Presse med 1971, 79: 1585
O’Conor GT, et al: A collaborative study for the evaluation of a sérologic test for primary liver cancer. Cancer 1970, 25: 1091
Wood RAB, et al: The prospective evaluation of tumor-associated antigens for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Br J Surg 1977, 64: 718
McIntire KR, et al: Serum α-fetoprotein in patients with neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer Res 1975, 35: 991
Tomoda H, et al: Liver metastasis of gastric cancer and α-fetoprotein. Geka (Surgery) 1975, 37: 1207 (Jpn)
Ichida F, et al: Pancreatic cancer. Jpn J Clin Med 1977, 35: 3476 (Jpn)
Nagamine M, et al: A case of pancreatic tail cancer with high level of serum α-fetoprotein. J Jpn Soc Int Med 1978, 67: 130 (Jpn)
Nagata K, et al: A case of pancreatic cancer with high level of serum α-fetoprotein. Jpn J Gastroenterol 1980, 77: 840 (Jpn)
Kato T, et al: α-fetoprotein produced pancreatic cancer—two resected cases. Jpn J Gastroenterol 1982, 79: 1000 (Jpn)
Inui K, et al: An autopsy case of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas with elevated serum AFP levels. Tan to Sui (The Biliary Tract and Pancreas) 1984, 5: 783 (Jpn)
Okamoto Y: Studies on α-fetoprotein. III An investigation of α-fetoprotein production in gastric cancer with and without liver metastasis. Jpn J Gastroenterol 1974, 71: 1271 (Jpn)
Kodama T, et al: Production of alphα-fetoprotein, normal serum proteins, and human chorionic gonadotropin in stomach cancer. Histologie and immunohistochemical analysis of 35 cases. Cancer 1981, 48: 1647
Tsung SH: Alpha-fetoprotein in lung cancer metastatic to the liver. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1975, 99: 267
Okita K, et al: Carcino-fetal proteins and gastric cancer: The site of alpha-fetoprptein synthesis in gastric cancer. Gastroenterol Jpn 1977, 12: 400
Gitlin D, et al: Synthesis of α-fetoprotein by liver, yolk sac and gastrointestinal tract of the human conceptus. Cancer Res 1972, 32: 979
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hamazoe, R., Yoshioka, H., Ikeda, Y. et al. Alpha-fetoprotein-producing pancreatic carcinoma: Case report and review of the Japanese literature. Gastroenterol Jpn 22, 503–508 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773820
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773820