Extrahepatic bile duct cancer produces granulocyte colony-stimulating factor?

G-CSF produced in some cancers is thought to be an autocrine growth factor. Therefore, patients with G-CSF producing cancer generally have a poor prognosis, and early diagnosis and treatment are required. Biliary cancers, such as cholangiocellular and gallbladder carcinoma are reported to produce G-CSF in some cases, however, extrahepatic bile duct cancer producing G-CSF has not yet been reported.

A case to be published on May 14, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this report..This is the first report of an extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma producing G-CSF. Since G-CSF producing carcinoma and sarcomatous change of biliary tract leads to poor prognosis, early diagnosis and treatment are needed. When an infection is ruled out, the G-CSF in serum should thus be examined. In addition, examinations such as bone scintigraphy and chest CT should also be considered for distant metastasis.