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Malignant diathesis from jejunal-ileal carcinoids
K A Zucker1, W E Longo, I M Modlin
1Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven VA Medical Center, New Haven, Connecticut.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Carcinoid tumors are often linked with other cancers. Elevated regulatory peptides released by carcinoid tumors may contribute to the development of multiple noncarcinoid malignancies.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine neoplasms with diverse clinical presentations.
- The association between carcinoid tumors and other malignancies is not widely recognized.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with multiple ileal-jejunal carcinoids and additional noncarcinoid malignancies.
- These patients exhibited elevated circulating levels of multiple regulatory peptides, including gastrin, bombesin, glucagon, enteroglucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and peptide tyrosine tyrosine.
Findings:
- Regulatory peptides, such as those elevated in the patients, are known to exert trophic effects on both the gastrointestinal tract and malignant tumors.
- The study highlights a potential mechanism linking carcinoid tumors to secondary malignancies.
Implications:
- The release of bioactive hormones by carcinoid tumors may play a role in the development of associated noncarcinoid tumors.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and clinical significance of this association.