Collecting duct carcinoma of kidney producing alpha-fetoprotein.
OBJECTIVE
A case of a collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney alpha-fetoprotein producing is reported. Serum elevation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a common marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, although some extrahepatic carcinomas, also of the kidney, with elevated AFP levels have also been reported in the literature.


METHODS
A 62-year-old man with a collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney presenting as a mediastinal mass and supra-clavicular lymph node enlargement, and with a serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level of 102.8 microg/L.


CONCLUSIONS
CDC of the kidney is associated with an aggressive course and extremely poor prognosis. There are no standard treatment regimens, and neither immunotherapy nor chemotherapy has been found to be effective. In the present case, nephrectomy followed by a chemotherapeutic association of carboplatin and gemcitabine gave promising results, with lessening of the patient's symptoms.
Blandamura
S
S
Section of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 61, 35121 Padova, Italy. stella.blandamura@unipd.it
Vendraminelli
R
R
Aversa
S
S
Fedrigo
M
M
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins