Thymic carcinoma associated with a high serum level of interleukin 6 diagnosed through the evaluation for asymptomatic elevation of acute-phase reactants.
A case of thymic squamous cell carcinoma producing interleukin-6 (IL-6) is reported. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, and serum IL-6 had been elevated, and normalized immediately after tumorectomy. IL-6 in the culture supernatant from the tumor was significantly elevated and the expression of IL-6 mRNA was demonstrated in the tumor by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that tumor cells were stained positive with an anti-IL-6 antibody. IL-6 derived from the tumor cells reflected the increase CRP and WBC counts. This case suggested that asymptomatic elevation of acute-phase reactants might be clues for the diagnosis of an IL-6 producing tumor.
Ikeda
T
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University.
Kawakami
K
K
Fujita
J
J
Bandoh
S
S
Yamadori
I
I
Takahara
J
J
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013934:Thymectomy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm