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Relationship of metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma to calcitonin content of pheochromocytomas an immunohistochemical study
Author(s) -
Mendelsohn Geoffrey,
Baylin Stephen B.,
Eggleston Joseph C.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19800201)45:3<498::aid-cncr2820450314>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - calcitonin , medicine , medullary cavity , pheochromocytoma , medullary carcinoma , thyroid , thyroid carcinoma , immunoperoxidase , pathology , endocrinology , antibody , immunology , monoclonal antibody
Immunoperoxidase studies have been utilized to investigate further the previously reported presence of immunoassayable calcitonin in pheochromocytoma tissue from some patients with MEN II syndromes. We have been able to demonstrate calcitonin in pheochromocytoma tissue only in two patients with MEN II syndromes in whom the pheochromocytomas contained metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. In both cases, the calcitonin was present only in the medullary carcinoma. We have not been able to demonstrate immunoreactive calcitonin in normal adrenal glands or in pheochromocytomas of other patients with and without MEN syndromes. Adrenal medullary cells and thyroid C cells are both of neural crest origin and both possess APUD characteristics. The presence of calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma cells and not in pheochromocytes has important implications with regard to cellular differentiation and peptide hormone production.