Serum levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin in pancreatic islet cell tumors.
To evaluate the usefulness of alpha-1-antitrypsin as a tumor marker for pancreatic islet cell tumors, serum levels were measured in 16 patients including 4 with gastrinomas, 4 with glucagonomas, 1 with a malignant somatostatinoma 1 with a malignant insulinoma, and 6 with "nonfunctioning" islet cell carcinoma and in 10 controls. Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin ranged from 190-420 mg/dl in controls (normal serum values with this method range between 200-450 mg/dl). Serum levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin ranged from 150-900 mg/dl in the 16 patients with islet cell tumors. Only 3 of the 16 patients had elevated levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin. In this group of patients with advanced disease, serum alpha-1-antitrypsin was not a sensitive marker, and it is not likely to be useful for diagnostic screening or for monitoring tumor growth in patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors.
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005935:Glucagonoma / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin