[Two cases of amylase-producing lung cancer]

In 1951, Weiss et al. first reported a case of an amylase-producing lung cancer. Since then, reports on immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical studies have been published. We recently have experienced two autopsy cases of lung cancer that manifested high amylase activity in the serum, urine, and pleural effusions. Histologically, both lung cancers were classified as being well differentiated adenocarcinomas, and immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed positive immunoreactivity for amylase. This paper discusses the histogenesis of amylase-producing lung cancers and cases found in the literature.