Duodenal obstruction from isolated breast cancer metastasis: a case report.

Metastatic involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract from breast cancer has been reported in autopsy series as occurring in more than 15% of patients, usually associated with extensive systemic spread; clinical manifestations from such metastases have been described in less than 1% of cases. Lobular infiltrating carcinoma seems to have a different metastatic pattern than the ductal type, with an apparent predilection for the gastrointestinal tract. Metastatic presentation as an isolated intestinal obstruction without other signs of metastatic spread is extremely rare. We present a case of isolated duodenal metastasis from breast cancer, associated with intestinal obstruction, as the first sign of metastatic spread.

Expression of urocortin mRNA and peptide in the human prostate and in prostatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Urocortin (UCN) is a recently described neuropeptide member of the CRF family, responsible for the secretion of the proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides from the pituitary gland. Although previous results have demonstrated the synthesis of several neuroendocrine factors in the prostate, no studies have been carried out on the expression of UCN in the human gland. METHODS: UCN expression was evaluated in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic tumor tissues by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: UCN mRNA and peptide were demonstrated in all specimens tested. In nonneoplastic tissues, UCN was localized in the secretory luminal epithelial and basal layer cells, in the smooth muscle component of the stroma, and in lymphoid infiltrates. An intense immunostaining was evident in prostate adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time UCN expression in the human prostate and in prostate cancer, and suggest a potential involvement of UCN in prostate physiopathology.