title: Partial spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case with high concentrations of serum lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha fetoprotein.
abstract: Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rare. There are few reports discussing spontaneous regression associated with serum lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha fetoprotein (AFP-L3). We describe a case of HCC with a high level of AFP-L3, which showed a rapid increase in alpha fetoprotein (AFP) concentration after partial spontaneous regression, and which was then treated successfully. A 71-year-old woman suffering from chronic hepatitis C underwent surgical resection for HCC. Preoperative concentrations of AFP fluctuated; subsequent to a transient decrease, a rapid increase in AFP was observed. AFP-L3 concentration was extremely high. The resected tissue consisted of encapsulated moderately differentiated HCC, subcapsular coagulation necrosis, and chronic active hepatitis. The postoperative course was uneventful. At present, 24 months after diagnosis, no symptoms or signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis have been observed. Although the precise etiology of the spontaneous regression in this patient is not known, we speculate that spontaneous regression of tumor cells with high malignant potential may be related to arterial involvement and insufficient blood supply.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Saga Social Insurance Hospital, Saga 849-8522, Japan. syano@kumin.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwaki
authors.forename: Kazuta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukumori
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kazumitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyomatsu
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C033619:lentil lectin