Metastatic brain mass caused by slow-growing small-cell lung cancer: differential vascular endothelial growth factor expression in primary and metastatic tumor.
Brain metastasis is a critical complication of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), resulting in rare long-time survival. We report a case of a 72-year-old man who displayed a very unique clinical appearance, with a large metastatic brain tumor that grew much faster than primary SCLC. The brain tumor expressed high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that was negative in primary lung tumor. The patient, who underwent brain surgery and chemotherapy against SCLC, has survived for > 2 years with a good performance status since initial brain symptoms occurred. Weak expression of VEGF in primary tumor might be associated with good prognosis. However, VEGF upregulation could occur after metastasis, resulting in aggressive tumor growth.
Inoue
Satoshi
S
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan. ino999@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Oshiro
Hisashi
H
Watanuki
Yuji
Y
Miyazawa
Naoki
N
Kudo
Makoto
M
Goto
Hideto
H
Tsukiji
Jun
J
Kaneko
Takeshi
T
Ishigatsubo
Yoshiaki
Y
D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology*
D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A