title: Immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and biochemical studies of an amylase-producing breast carcinoma.
abstract: We describe a breast cancer with ectopic production of amylase, found in the patient's serum, urine and in the tumour. Clinically, serum amylase levels reflected both the progression of the disease and regression induced by various therapies. Using agarose gel electrophoresis and a wheat protein inhibitor assay, the predominant serum amylase appeared to be identical to pancreatic-type isoenzyme. However, the action mode analysis using a new fluorogenic substrate revealed that the serum contained non-salivary, non-pancreatic amylase. The tumour had microscopic features of invasive ductal carcinoma with some argyrophilic differentiation. The component cells stained positively for amylase, and ultrastructurally numerous secretory granules were seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inaji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omichi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases