Arachidonic acid metabolites in a nephroblastoma associated with paraneoplastic hypercalcemia

Blood concentration of PGE2, F2a, 6 keto PGF1a (6kF1a), TxB2 and 13, 14 dehydro 15 keto PGE2 (13, 14 OH 15 k E2) were measured in renal artery and vein of a patient with a PGs producing nephroblastoma. The tumor tissue produced PGs in the following order: PGF2a greater than PGE2 greater than TxB2 greater than 6kF1a greater than 13, 14 OH 15 k E2. However, renal artery concentration of the substances were as follows: 13, 14 OH 15 k E2 greater than TxB2 greater than 6kF1a greater than PGF2a greater than PGE2. Since arterial concentration is critical to postulating a calcium mobilizing effect on bone tissue, PGE2 arterial level seems to be too low to exert a pathogenetic role on hypercalcemia, at least in the patient reported here.