title: Successful therapy of an ACTH-producing gastric carcinoid APUD tumor: report of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: A case of a patient with a metastatic ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone)-producing gastric carcinoid APUD (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) tumor is presented. The patient presented with Cushing's syndrome and very high levels of ACTH. The Cushing's syndrome was controlled medically, and when the patient deteriorated clinically she received treatment with a combination of BCNU, adriamycin, and ftorafur. She responded dramatically with marked clinical improvement and normalization of plasma ACTH levels. The current status of the APUD cell concept is discussed, with its overall implications for treatment of this group of malignancies.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D001079:Apudoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009384:Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D008797:Metyrapone