Double cancer of the stomach, one AFP-producing tumor

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) producing large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of lung with multiple liver metastases: A case report

A 78-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for multiple lung and liver tumors. Initial clinical diagnosis was hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with lung metastases because of a high value of serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) (6,705 mAU/mL). However, a review of a prior CT showed the lung tumor had existed 6 months before liver tumors were detected. The tumors progressed rapidly and the patient died 37 days after admission. Autopsy revealed that both lung and liver tumors exhibited the histology of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells expressed not only neuroendocrine markers but also PIVKA-II diffusely. Hepatoid differentiation was not detected. Background liver did not show any chronic liver disease. The final diagnosis was PIVKA-II producing LCNEC of the lung with multiple liver metastases. PIVKA-II producing tumors other than HCC are extremely rare. To our best knowledge, this is the first case report of PIVKA-II producing neuroendocrine tumors of the lung.

Clinical application of protein induced by vitamin K antagonist-II as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Early diagnosis improves the prognosis. Protein induced by vitamin K antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) is an effective serum biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. Combined with another serum biomarker α-fetoprotein (AFP), the sensitivity and specificity of HCC diagnosis can be improved to a maximum of 94 and 98.5 %, respectively. PIVKA-II alone or in combination with AFP and/or AFP-L3 was effective in predicting the treatment response and clinical outcome of curative hepatic resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and liver transplantation. Japanese clinical guidelines recommend the combined use of PIVKA-II and AFP for the diagnosis of HCC, management of high-risk population, and prognosis of anticancer treatment. Further, PIVKA-II as a functional target promoted HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by activating c-Met and other signal transduction pathways. Inhibition of PIVKA-II may provide a selective and effective therapy for HCC.

Mediastinal Yolk Sac Tumor Producing Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence or Antagonist-II

Extragonadal yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are rare. We herein report the case of a 66-year-old man with mediastinal, lung and liver tumors. The largest mass was located in the liver and contained a high concentration of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein. Therefore, the lesion was difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, YST was diagnosed based on the results of a liver biopsy. Although chemotherapy was effective, the patient died of respiratory failure. The autopsy revealed primary mediastinal YST. In the current report, we describe this case of PIVKA-II-producing YST and review previous cases of PIVKA-II-producing tumors other than hepatoma.

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II-producing gastric cancer

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is a putative specific marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it may also be produced by a small number of gastric cancers. To date, 16 cases of PIVKA-II-producing gastric cancer have been reported, 2 of which were reported by us and all of which were identified in Japan. There are no symptoms specific to PIVKA-II-producing gastric cancer, and the representative clinical symptoms are general fatigue, appetite loss, and upper abdominal pain. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are also increased in almost all cases. Liver metastasis is observed in approximately 80% of cases and portal vein tumor thrombus is observed in approximately 20% of cases. Differential diagnosis between metastatic liver tumor and HCC is often difficult. Grossly, almost all cases appear as advanced gastric cancer. Histologically, a hepatoid pattern is observed in many cases, in addition to a moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma component. The production of PIVKA-II and AFP is usually confirmed using immunohistochemical staining. Treatment and prognosis largely depends on the existence of liver metastasis, and the prognosis of patients with liver metastasis is very poor. PIVKA-II may be produced during the hepatocellularmetaplasia of the tumor cells.

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas producing protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

We describe a rare case of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas with production of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The patient was a 49-year-old woman admitted because of high serum levels of PIVKA-II (1.63 AU/ml) and AFP (623 ng/ml) and abnormal ultrasonographic findings of the pancreas, found incidentally at medical checkup. Both ultrasonography and computed tomography showed swelling of the pancreas with small areas of low density, but no hepatic lesions. The serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were not increased. A PIVKA-II and AFP-producing pancreatic cancer was strongly suspected, and total pancreatectomy was performed. Pathological examination showed that the tumor cells were arranged in trabecular and solid patterns with bile production, and were immunohistochemically positive for PIVKA-II and AFP, resembling hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The tumor was diagnosed as hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas, and the patient has survived 48 months after initial diagnosis. It is important that hepatoid carcinoma be considered as a possible malignant tumor of the pancreas, and simultaneous measurement of the serum levels of AFP and PIVKA-II will enable earlier diagnosis. This is the first report describing hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas producing PIVKA-II.

Carcinoma with shared pathologic characteristics of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) and fucosylated AFP (AFP-L3) are specific tumor markers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article was to report a case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) with high levels of expression of AFP, AFP-L3, and PIVKA-II.

METHODS

A 70-year-old man weighing 66 kg with a diagnosis of intrahepatic CC presented with a liver tumor 4.0 cm in diameter and elevated concentrations of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (575 U/mL), PIVKA-II (379 mAU/mL), and AFP (497 ng/mL; AFP-L3, 88.1%). On extended medial hepatic segmentectomy, microscopy showed that the tumor was a CC without HCC. The patient subsequently underwent immunohistochemical assessments using cytokeratin-19, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), hepatocyte paraffin-1 (HP-1), PIVKA-II, and AFP.

RESULTS

In all specimens, desmoplasia was observed. However, results of immunohistochemistry showed positive results for cytokeratin-19 and EMA; HP-1 results were negative. Results of PIVKA-II and AFP testing in the tumor were positive.

CONCLUSIONS

The case presented here showed characteristics of CC and HCC, whereas the histologic expression of the tumor suggested CC. Based on the literature search, this is the first known report of a case of a CC expressing AFP and PIVKA-II confirmed on immunohistochemical staining. This case is interesting with regard to the ability of the progenitor cells to differentiate HCC and CC.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)- and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP)-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastasis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C

A 45-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of chronic hepatitis C and a large liver tumor accompanied by increased serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), the tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma. Endoscopic examination revealed advanced gastric cancer. Biopsy specimens of the stomach and liver showed gastric adenocarcinoma and its metastasis to the liver. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that adenocarcinoma cells both of the stomach and liver, were positive for the antibodies against AFP as well as DCP. Expression of AFP mRNA was shown in the cancer cells of the stomach. Accordingly, we diagnosed this patient with AFP- and DCP-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach together with liver metastasis.

Des-gamma carboxy prothrombin (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases

We describe the case of an 87-year-old woman who presented to Tokyo Kousei Nenkin Hospital because of appetite loss and general fatigue. Multiple liver masses and Borrmann type 2 gastric tumor were detected. A clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer was made based on the patient's high levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP; 490 200 ng/mL) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II, 2284 mAU/mL). The patient's general condition worsened gradually and she died 42 days after admission. Autopsy revealed that the predominant histological structure of the gastric tumor was trabecular or sheet-like, although a tubular structure was also found. Venous invasion was prominent. Immunohistochemically, the tumor tissue was positive for AFP and a few tumor cells were positive for PIVKA-II. The histological appearance and immunohistochemical features of the hepatic tumors resembled that of the gastric tumor. This case was pathologically diagnosed as AFP- and PIVKA-II-producing gastric carcinoma with multiple liver metastases. When tumors are found in the stomach and liver and serum PIVKA-II level is abnormally high, the possibility of PIVKA-II-producing gastric cancer with liver metastasis should be considered, especially when hepatitis virus markers are negative and liver cirrhosis is not present.

Alpha-fetoprotein- and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin-producing advanced gastric cancer

A case of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) producing gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis is reported. The simultaneous presence of Borrmann I gastric cancer and IIa aggregating type gastric cancer was noted. Borrmann I gastric cancer was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, while IIa aggregating type gastric cancer was a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Plasma levels of AFP and DCP were 247,000 ng/ml and 320,000 mAU/ml, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the production of these two proteins in Borrmann I gastric cancer.

Preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4, CEA, CA 19-9, and alpha-fetoprotein in patients with gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

The clinical importance of preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was prospectively evaluated in 44 patients with gastric cancer.

METHOD

The serum tumor marker levels were determined by commercial radioimmunoassay kits. Positivity for CA 72-4 (>4 U/mL), CEA (>5 ng/mL), CA 19-9 (>37 U/mL), and AFP (>10 ng/mL) were correlated according to the stage, histology, and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CA 72-4 showed a higher positivity rate for gastric cancer (47.7%) than CEA (25%), CA 19-9 (25%), and AFP (0%). The combination of CA 72-4 with CEA and CA 19-9 increased the sensitivity to 61.4%. The positivity rates of CA 72-4 in patients at stages I and II (initial disease) and in patients at stages III and IV (advanced disease) were 9% and 60.6%, respectively (P < 0.005). No correlation was found between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and the stage of gastric cancer. There was a tendency of positivity for CA 72-4 to suggest lymph node involvement, but it was not significant (P = 0.075). Serum levels of tumor markers did not show a correlation with the histological types of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4 provided a predictive value in indicating advanced gastric cancer.