Gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma and familial investigation: does it always produce alpha-fetoprotein?

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2003 Nov;15(11):1241-4. doi: 10.1097/00042737-200311000-00015.

Abstract

We present the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian man with gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma without increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the serum. The patient had a strong history of gastric cancer in his family, affecting seven members, including a brother and a sister. The patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy, but 4 months later presented hepatic metastases, and 6 months after the initial diagnosis he succumbed to the disease. Immunohistochemical tests showed that the tumour was positive for AFP, hepatocyte paraffin 1, and neuron-specific enolase, but negative for synaptophysin and chromogranin. Previously reported cases of hepatoid gastric tumours showed that they produce large amounts of AFP and that they have a poor prognosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / analysis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Stomach Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase