title: Alpha-fetoprotein variants in a case of pancreatoblastoma.
abstract: We describe a 6-year-old boy with histologically confirmed pancreatoblastoma and a markedly elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration. Due to local tumour invasion, cytotoxic chemotherapy was given to debulk the tumour before attempting surgical resection. Serial serum AFP concentrations were measured on this patient. During chemotherapy there was a > 95% fall in total AFP. Tumour-specific variants of AFP, detected by isoelectric focusing, also disappeared during chemotherapy but recurred when chemotherapy was withdrawn. It is suggested that although there was no change in overall size of the tumour, as assessed by various imaging techniques, the changes in serological markers may indicate that the treatment did in fact cause considerable tumour necrosis, AFP and its variants may be useful markers of tumour response in patients with pancreatoblastoma. The expression of AFP and its variants in pancreatoblastoma may be related to the embryonic origin of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shing
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012016:Reference Values; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins