title: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the mediastinum with alpha-fetoprotein production.
abstract: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a relatively new category of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor. Although it was first detected in the lung, LCNEC has since been found in a variety of extrapulmonary sites. We now describe a patient who was diagnosed with LCNEC originating from the mediastinum, an extremely rare disorder. An increased serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the patient was reduced by chemotherapy in association with tumor shrinkage. Furthermore, the tumor was confirmed immunohistochemically to produce AFP. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a LCNEC that produces AFP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takezawa
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneda
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uejima
authors.forename: Hyung-Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imakita
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins