Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with a choriocarcinomatous feature producing human chorionic gonadotropin
Ishikawa, H.; Tsutsumi, H.; Ikoma, M.; Yoshida, H.; Murayama, N.; Watanabe, M.
Gan no Rinsho. Japan Journal of Cancer Clinics 32(9): 1041-1045
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4949 PMID: 2427755 Document Number: 281352
An undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas in a 50-year-old man was found to be associated with a very elevated level of serum hCG. Syncytiotrophoblastic tumor cells were seen sporadically in the cancer nest, and they showed diffuse positive staining for hCG by immunohistochemical techniques. Positive staining for hCG was also observed in a few mononucleated cancer cells. The results indicated ectopic production of hCG by pancreatic cancer with a choriocarcinomatous feature and tended to support the hypothesis of the retrodifferentiation theory holding that choriocarcinoma is derived from a pre-existing pancreas cancer through metaplastic proliferation.