Pancreatic-polypeptide (PP) and endocrine tumours of the pancreas

The role of human pancreatic-polypeptide in endocrine tumours of the pancreas is reviewed. Pancreatic-polypeptide may be involved in 3 different ways: 1. In cases with pure PP producing tumours. 2. In mixed endocrine tumours containing PP cells. 3. In cases with PP cell hyperplasia in normal pancreatic tissue associated with endocrine pancreatic tumours as VIP-omas, insulinomas, and glucagonomas. PP does not seem to serve as a general marker for endocrine tumours of the pancreas, but PP determinations are useful in patients wbith watery diarrhoea syndromes, because such syndromes may be associated with tumours that contain PP cells. Large molecular forms of PP occur in plasma from patients with endocrine tumours and high PP concentrations, but may also be found in other groups of patients. It is suggested that an atropin-suppression test could be of diagnostic value in revealing patients with increased serum concentrations of PP from other causes than vagal stimulation of normal PP cells.