Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To ascertain whether the content of endocrine markers is constant in small-cell carcinoma of the lung, levels of three markers of medullary thyroid carcinoma were studied in this tumor. Histaminase was increased in six of six primary tumors (three to 14,000 times), L-dopa decarboxylase in four of six (six to 30 times), and calcitonin in one of one (eight times) over levels in adjacent lung. Marker levels in mediastinal metastases reflected those in primary tumors in four of five patients. However, in four of seven, multiple hepatic metastases contained low to absent levels despite simultaneously high values in chest lesions. Immunohistochemical studies of histaminase revealed that within each primary tumor different cells contained different amounts of the enzyme. Since marker content varied between tumor cells, between primary tumors and between metastases in individual patients we conclude that circulating levels of these three markers cannot be expected necessarily to mirror tumor burden in patients with small-cell lung tumors.
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PMID:Variable content of histaminase, L-dopa decarboxylase and calcitonin in small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Biologic and clinical implications. 2 72

Twenty-seven small cell carcinomas of the lung and three tumors of the large intestine with combined adenocarcinomatous and small cell and/or anaplastic carcinoid-type histologic features were studied by light and electron microscopy. It was shown that the small cells have morphologic characteristics of APUD cells. Also presented are the histologic features of a carcinoma of the lung with large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and giant cell carcinoma areas in the primary site and in several metastatic foci. Two of the renal metastases showed small cell carcinoma. The combined tumors and the numerous other similar neoplasms described in the literature and reviewed here suggest an endodermal origin for digestive and respiratory tract APUD cells based on the hypothesis that cancer is a clonal proliferation, and mucous and squamous cell differentiation is an endodermal rather than neural crest characteristic. The ultrastructural features of tumors of cells of known neural crest origin, including a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, three carotid body tumors, a pheochromocytoma, and two cutaneous melanomas were compared with those of other APUD cell tumors including small cell carcinomas of the lung, two bronchial carcinoids, a carcinoid of the appendix, and a carcinoid of the kidney. Cells of the latter group sometimes possessed cytoplasmic tonofibrils, round compact masses of cytoplasmic microfilaments, and ductal lumina. These features were lacking in the former group and may signify a different embryologic origin. The histologic, histopathologic, and embryologic evidence regarding the origin of digestive and respiratory tract APUD cells is reviewed, showing that the former are, and the latter probably are, of endodermal and not neuroectodermal origin.
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PMID:The endodermal origin of digestive and respiratory tract APUD cells. Histopathologic evidence and a review of the literature. 3 40

Plasma hCT levels were less than 50 pg/ml in 50 normal subjects. In 16 patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT), plasma hCT levels were distinctively elevated and they fell significantly after total thyroidectomy, but in 11 of them plasma levels were still high, indicating the presence of metastases. In 74 patients with the other types of malignancy, plasma hCT levels were found to be high in 9 cases (3 oat cell carcinoma of the lung, 4 malignant carcinoids, one malignant pheochromocytoma and one acute myelocytic leukemia). Except for the leukemic case, all these tumors were derived from neural crest. In 12 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, plasma hCT levels were less than 20 pg/ml. In 13 hypoparathyroid patients, two with pseudohypoparathyroidism and one with pseudoidiopathic hypoparathyroidism, plasma hCT levels were slightly elevated. Some patients with uremia had elevated plasma hCT levels, but there was no relation between plasma levels of hCT and those of PTH, urea nitrogen or creatinine. In response to Ca (4.5 mg/kg/10 min) or tetragastrin (4 mug/kg/5 min) infusion, a marked increase in plasma hCT was observed in all patients with MCT, but not in normal subjects. In 5 hypoparathyroid patients, a significant increase to both stimuli was also observed in all cases. Two patients with pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism responded to the Ca load. These results indicate that the determination of plasma hCT levels especially after a short Ca or tetragastrin infusion is important to study various pathological conditions.
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PMID:Plasma human calcitonin (hCT) levels in normal and pathologic conditions, and their responses to short calcium or tetragastrin infusion. 19 Dec 50

This study deals with 11 cases of thyroid medullary carcinoma of which 7 were familial cases including 3 cases of Sipple's syndrome and 4 cases of sporadic cases. There were also 2 cases of Cushing's syndrome. In addition to the previously described English literatures about human medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, the rod-shaped body with cristae and an abundant glycogen particles in the cytoplasm, nuclear inclusion bodies of cytoplasmic invagination and microvilli at the surface membrane of gland formation were found in our cases. The mean and mode diameters of secretory granules of all familial cases with only calcitonin secretion were larger than those of the sporadic cases with ectopic ACTH and beta-MSH in addition to calcitonin secretion. Ultrastructural study on non-cancerous follicles of grossly normal thyroid of two cases of early familial medullary carcinoma disclosed apparently increased C-cells which were not intrathyroidal metastases. It is supposed that the increased C-cells in the thyroid of the familial cases are multicentric C-cell hyperplasia.
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PMID:Ultrastructural study of thyroid medullary carcinoma. 20 Nov 48

The relations of calcitonin concentrations to the presence of bone marrow metastases and to the concentrations of calcium, parathormone and gastrin in serum were investigated in 74 untreated patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Calcitonin concentrations were enhanced in two thirds of the patients, while serum calcium concentrations were normal in all. In 19 of 57 patients parathormone concentrations were slightly above the normal range, but the concentrations of parathormone and calcitonin were not correlated. Bone marrow metastases had no influence on the concentration of serum calcitonin. Finally, a small inverse correlation between the concentrations of gastrin and calcitonin in serum was observed. The results resemble those of the calcitonin-producing medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, supporting the suggestion of an ectopic source of hypercalcitoninemia in small cell carcinoma of the lung.
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PMID:Small cell carcinoma of the lung: relation of calcitonin to bone marrow metastases, parathormone and gastrin. 22 33

A 64-yr-old female presented with severe osteoporosis and easy bruisability of over 2-yr duration. Biopsy of a neck mass revealed medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Subsequently, lymphangitic pulmonary metastases were demonstrated which had been present radiographically for at least 4 yr. Basal serum calcitonin was markedly elevated and increased during calcium infusion. The diagnosis of ectopic ACTH syndrome was first entertained when hypokalemic alkalosis was observed during evaluation of her carcinoma. Elevated urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, 17-ketosteroids, plasma cortisol, and immunoreactive plasma ACTH levels were documented. Adrenal steroidogenesis seemed to suppress on high dose dexamethasone. The primary tumor and its metastases contained high concentrations of immunoreactive ACTH and beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Hepatic metastases contained extremely high concentrations of calcitonin. In contrast to the usual presentation of the ectopic ACTH syndrome as primarily hypokalemic alkalosis and glucose intolerance, patients with relatively benign and indolent ACTH-secreting tumors, such as certain cases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, may present with more typical signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. The more pronounced cushingoid features in this latter group presumably reflects a more prolonged period of exposure to elevated glucocorticoid levels. Ten cases of ACTH-secreting medullary carcinoma of the thyroid from the literature are discussed. Extopic ACTH production by such tumors should be considered in the evaluation of patients with Cushing's syndrome or unexplained severe osteopenia.
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PMID:ACTH-secreting medullary carcinoma of the thyroid presenting a severe idiopathic osteoporosis and senile purpura: report of a case and review of the literature. 23 64

The presence of calcitonin and of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied in six cases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid using an immunoperoxidase technique. In five cases the material was obtained surgically and in one at autopsy. Tissue from primary tumours as well as from metastases was studied. Calcitonin and CEA were identified within all the tumours studied, although their pattern of distribution and staining intensity varied both within the cells and within the tumour. Some parts of the tumour contained both CEA and calcitonin, while others stained positively only for one of these substances. In some parts of the tumour there was no positive staining for either substance. Within the cells, CEA showed a typical linear distribution along cell surfaces, while calcitonin showed a more even cytoplasmic distribution and the deposits were more granular. Normal tissue surrounding tumour deposits did not show positive staining. It is considered that cells of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid contain both calcitonin and CEA. Identification of CEA and calcitonin in tumour tissue can be used as a diagnostic aid to identify medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Iit is considered that these substances are being produced by this tumour and can be used as tumour markers.
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PMID:Demonstration of calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) by immunoperoxidase technique. 38 71

Prostaglandins and serotonin are vasoactive compounds with profound effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Both cause inhibition of gastric acid secretion (although serotonin stimulates gastric pepsin secretion), stimulation of intestinal motility, and conversion of small intestinal mucosa from absorption to secretion of water and electrolytes. Their effects on pancreatic and biliary function are still not clear. Although prostaglandins appear to elicit their effects primarily by a paracrine mode of action, and serotonin is primarily a neurotransmitter (neurocrine), it is clear that even under normal conditions both can function as humoral agents. For example, we have shown that serotonin plays a physiologic role as a humoral inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. However, the effects of these agents become more pronounced in patients with humorally mediated diarrheogenic syndromes. Serotonin (and related indoles, particularly 5-hydroxytryptophan) has been firmly implicated as a cause of diarrhea in patients with carcinoid syndrome; our recent studies suggest that the diagnosis can be more effectively made by measuring circulating immunoreactive serotonin concentrations than urinary excretion of 5-HIAA; that some circulating serotonin escapes hepatic inactivation and, thus, large intestinal tumors can cause carcinoid syndrome in the absence of hepatic metastases; and that large amounts of serotonin are produced by some noncarcinoid diarrheogenic tumors, including medullary carcinomas of the thyroid and tumors associated with the WDHA syndrome. A large number of tumors of probable neural crest origin, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, carcinoids, and tumors associated with the WDHA syndrome, secrete large amounts of prostaglandins, particularly PGE2. The clinical response of at least some of the patients harboring these tumors to inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis (particularly indomethacin) suggests that prostaglandins play a role in the etiology of these diarrheogenic syndromes.
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PMID:Prostaglandins and serotonin: nonpeptide diarrheogenic hormones. 39 Aug 99

Thirty-two patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) were studied before and after therapy. Sixteen patients had familial and 16 had the sporadic type of disease. The groups differed in several features: Patients with sporadic disease were older at diagnosis and presented with enlargements in the thyroid or lymph nodes, and one patient had neuromata; in the familial group the disease was more often bilateral and was associated at times with the MEA syndrome (parathyroid adenoma or pheochromocytomas, or both). The immunoreactive serum calcitonin (CT) level was measured before and after some form of therapy in all 32 patients. Our investigations showed: 1) Delaying treatment was clearly detrimental in this progressive disease; 2) The most effective therapy was surgery, while radiotherapy and chemotherapy were less effective; 3) Postoperatively, the CT level usually fell sharply, when the disease was thought extirpated, but the lowest nadir might be reached at from 1 month to 6 years; 4) In all such patients the CT level eventually rose from the postoperative nadir; 5) Patients with no clinical or radiological evidence of disease, had high CT levels for a mean of 3 years of observation; 6) A marked rise of CT levels in three patients preceded metastases and death; 7) Patients with abdominal, particularly liver disease had the highest CT levels; and 8) Patients who died had relatively high CT levels, corresponding in general with the extent of disease.
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PMID:Medullary thyroid carcinoma: importance of serial serum calcitonin measurement. 42 24

A 47-year-old patient underwent surgery in 1972 for a metastasising medullary thyroid carcinoma. 4 years later he developed choroidal metastases in the left eye and then, after another 3 months, multiple small metastases appeared in the right eye. The metastases were cryo- and photocoagulated because medullary thyroid carcinoma do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy. Although the single very large metastasis in the left eye was scarcely affected, the multiple metastases in the right eye were destroyed. As a result the patient has retained useful vision in this eye for the past three years.
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PMID:[Cryo- and photocoagulation for choroidal metastases of a thyroid carcinoma (author's transl)]. 57 49


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