[Hemopoietic factor producing hepatocellular carcinoma in a child]

A 12-year-old boy with hepatocellular carcinoma presented with marked neutrophilia up to 69,200/microliters and elevation of serum colony stimulating activity (CSA) and burst promoting activity (BPA). After resection of the tumor, neutrophil count returned to the normal value and hemopoietic activities in serum decreased. However, on relapse, both elevated to the preoperative levels. Hemopoietic activities in the medium conditioned with tumor tissue were investigated using normal human bone marrow as the target cells, and both CSA and BPA were demonstrated. From these findings, it could be considered that the tumor tissue produced a substance that stimulated both myelopoiesis and erythropoiesis.