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α-fetoprotein expression in a dedifferentiated liposarcoma

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Abstract

Extremely rare cases of paraneoplastic syndromes or ectopic production of proteins associated with liposarcoma are reported in literature. We describe a unique case of relapsing retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma with biochemical, immunohistochemical, and molecular evidence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ectopic production. The lesion was associated to elevated AFP plasma levels that subsided after tumor removal. Immunohistochemical studies showed AFP production by a minority of tumor cells and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed AFP mRNA expression. Finding of MDM2 and CDK4 iperexpression by immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by grant from The Regione Piemonte (Turin, D.D. 173 30/10/2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Via Santena 7, Turin, 10126, Italy

    Martino Bosco, Elena Allia & Donatella Pacchioni

  2. Department of Pathology, Institut Bergonié, rue de Saint-Genes 5, Bordeaux, 33076, France

    Jean-Michel Coindre

  3. Department of General Surgery, University of Turin, C.so Dogliotti 3, Turin, 10126, Italy

    Chiara Odasso

  4. Department of Pathology, Ospedale Civile di Pinerolo, via Brigata Cagliari 34, Pinerolo, 10064, Italy

    Alberto Pagani

Authors
  1. Martino Bosco
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  2. Elena Allia
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  3. Jean-Michel Coindre
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  4. Chiara Odasso
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  5. Alberto Pagani
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  6. Donatella Pacchioni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donatella Pacchioni.

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Bosco, M., Allia, E., Coindre, JM. et al. α-fetoprotein expression in a dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Virchows Arch 448, 517–520 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0151-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0151-3

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