BACKGROUND: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful tumor marker for germ cell tumors of the ovary and is valuable for both diagnosis and follow-up. However, it is very rare for an epithelial ovarian carcinoma to secrete AFP. CASE: We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with a ovarian clear cell carcinoma with serous component of less than 10%. Both histological components were producing AFP as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. After surgery and chemotherapy, AFP decreased to normal range. The patient also had elevated CA-125 levels but the tumor was negative for CA-125 which suggested the increased CA-125 might have been due to the associated ascites. CONCLUSION: Ovarian clear cell type carcinomas rarely secrete only AFP and it might be the single marker that could be used in follow-up.
BACKGROUND:Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful tumor marker for germ cell tumors of the ovary and is valuable for both diagnosis and follow-up. However, it is very rare for an epithelial ovarian carcinoma to secrete AFP. CASE: We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with a ovarian clear cell carcinoma with serous component of less than 10%. Both histological components were producing AFP as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. After surgery and chemotherapy, AFP decreased to normal range. The patient also had elevated CA-125 levels but the tumor was negative for CA-125 which suggested the increased CA-125 might have been due to the associated ascites. CONCLUSION: Ovarian clear cell type carcinomas rarely secrete only AFP and it might be the single marker that could be used in follow-up.
Authors: Jean Bouquet de Jolinière; Jean Marc Ayoubi; Guy Lesec; Pierre Validire; Alexandre Goguin; Luca Gianaroli; Jean Bernard Dubuisson; Anis Feki; Jean Gogusev Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2012-12-03 Impact factor: 4.566