Abstract
We report a case of gastric cancer who showed remarkably high serum AFP level. A 56-year-old female complained of severe abdominal pain and consulted her local doctor. Radiologic examinations disclosed a mass lesion in the antrum of the stomach (Borrmann 3 type).
She was admitted to the department of internal medicine, Kure National Hospital in December 1990. Gastroendoscopy also showed the mass lesion in the antrum of the stomach. Histologic study of the biopsied specimen disclosed tubular adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated type of gastric origin (Group f). Computerized tomography and ultrasonography showed multiple filling low density area in the liver.
The tissues of the tumor obtained at biopsy were prepared for paraffin section and the tumor cells were stained histochemically by labelled Streptavidin Biotin. AFP was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. The serum AFP level was 490×104ng/ml and AFP subf raction of this showed the type of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The cases of gastric cancer with such high serum AFP level have not been reported. From the observation of AFP subfraction, it is suggested that the gastric cells may perform retrogetic expression and the function may advance remarkably.
