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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1993; 101(5): 297-302
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211247
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endocrine Markers in Malignant Tumor Cells Producing Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein

M. Zabel1 , M. Dietel2
  • 1Department of Histology, University of Medicine, Poznan, Poland
  • 2Institute of Pathology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy may reflect the synthesis and secretion of biologically active parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) by a given tumor. In the present study we investigated 25 human non-endocrine carcinomas which were clinically associated with hypercalcemia (Ca> 11 mg%). By applying PTHrP-specific immunocytochemistry, PTHrP could be detected in all tumors. The intratumorous distribution was heterogeneous with strong positivity in relatively few cells or weak positivity in the majority of cells. Surprisingly, in the PTHrP producing cells none of the marker proteins typical of endocrine cells (neuronspecific enolase, Leu-7 antigen, chromogranin, synaptophysin and endocrine granule constituent) was found. On the other hand, PTHrP producing cells of endocrine origin, such as medullary cancer, or normal and adenomatous parathyroid glands, all produce these endocrine markers. Thus for the first time, the existance of peptide hormone producing tumor cells is reported without expression of endocrine markers. This indicates a special mechanism of PTHrP secretion.

Key words

Endocrine markers - Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) - Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) - Immunocytochemistry - Parathyroid glands

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