Abstract
A 64-year-old woman was evaluated at another hospital for bloody stools, and colonoscopy showed rectal cancer. The patient was then referred to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Preoperative evaluation found no evidence of distant metastases, but uterine infiltration was suspected. A low anterior resection and hysterectomy were performed. Histopathology showed positive staining for AFP, and an AFP-producing colorectal cancer was diagnosed. AFP levels were normal before surgery and have remained normal to the present time.
During postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, a gradual rise in a tumor marker (CEA) indicated local recurrence. The local recurrence was successfully treated with chemoradiotherapy, and currently (3 years 8 months after surgery), the patient remains in remission.
AFP-producing colon cancer is often associated with liver metastases and usually has a poor prognosis. This case of postoperative local recurrence of an AFP-producing colon cancer successfully treated with chemotherapy is reported, and the relevant literature is discussed.
