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Hypercalcemia and pancreatic endocrine neoplasia with elevated PTH-rP: report of two new cases and subject review.

Matsen SL, Yeo CJ, Hruban RH, Choti MA

Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is widely associated with tumor production of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTH-rP). This peptide functions in endocrine, autocrine and paracrine mechanisms in a manner similar to PTH; increasing renal uptake of calcium, decreasing retention of phosphorous, and stimulating adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Although PTH-rP production has been well documented in neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas, we present here two cases of endocrine pancreatic neoplasms elaborating PTH-rP. We then review the literature of previous cases and delve into the pathophysiology of this peptide.

Published 7 February 2005 in J Gastrointest Surg, 9(2): 270-9.
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