A case of thrombopoietin-producing ovarian carcinoma confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

A case of ovarian carcinoma with thrombopoietin production is reported. A 49-year-old Japanese woman had serous cystadenocarcinoma of the right ovary with peritoneal spread. The platelet count was elevated to 432 x 10(9)/L. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the serum demonstrated remarkably high levels of thrombopoietin (2.96 fmol/ml). Immunohistochemical examination using an antibody specific for thrombopoietin revealed positive staining in the carcinoma cells, confirming thrombopoietin production. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.