Hepatocarcinoma in a child: a clinical and experimental study.
An inoperable hepatocarcinoma in a 2-year-old female was treated with chemotherapy. Regression of the tumour allowed complete surgical excision. The tumour was successfully xenografted into athymic rats. Growth of tumour was monitored by external measurement and plasma alphafetoprotein (AFP) assays. AFP levels meanwhile in the patient fell from 2 x 10(6) international units/ml preoperatively to 10 units/ml post-operatively. The value of AFP as a tumour marker in hepatic tumours and the availability of xenograft material for experimentation enabled the measurement of plasma AFP levels as well as assessing the tumour mass.
Carachi
R
R
Department of Surgical Paediatrics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, Scotland.
Azmy
A
A
Hann
I
I
McAllister
J
J
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins