[Increase of alpha-fetoprotein in pancreatic endocrine tumors with hepatic metastases. Apropos of 2 cases]

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 1996 Mar;20(2):204-6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report two cases of metastatic non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumour with very elevated plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein. In these two cases, serial plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein, initially normal, correlated well with hepatic tumour progression and were associated with fatal outcome. These results suggest that elevated plasma concentration of alpha-fetoprotein may be caused by metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumour and than alpha-fetoprotein serial measurement may be useful in prognostic evaluation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • alpha-Fetoproteins