ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN-PRODUCING GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

We report a rare gastric tumour characterized morphologically by its h epatoid features and alpha-fetoprotein production and which presented clinically with gastric haemorrhage, Gastric fibroscopy showed a bleed ing tumour of the antrum, The microscopic appearance of the tumour sho wed two different patterns. The most extensive presented hepatoid feat ures. The second pattern showed undifferentiated features. The tumour cells showed immunohistochemical positivity for alphafetoprotein, EMA and p53 protein; 37% were aneuploid with a DNA index of 1.46, The seru m level of alphafetoprotein was not measured before the gastrectomy bu t after ten days it was elevated at 1070ng/ml. The patient died 6 mont hs after the admission. This case provides, for the first time, inform ation on the DNA content and the p53 expression of this unusual and ag gressive variant of gastric adenocarcinoma.