A case of gastric carcinoma associated with excessive granulocytosis. Production of a colony-stimulating factor by the tumor

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Abstract
A patient with gastric carcinoma exhibited an excessive granulocytosis (58,000/μl) preoperatively, in the absence of overt infection. After resection of the primary tumor, the peripheral leukocyte count decreased promptly to the normal value. In a search for a colony‐stimulating factor (CSF), the tumor was transplanted into nude mice. A marked neutrophilia was observed in the tumor‐bearing mice, suggesting the production of CSF by the tumor. Media conditioned by the primary culture of the tumor cells revealed the presence of CSF activity as well. CSF‐producing carcinomas have been detected in various organs; nevertheless, no cases of gastric carcinoma have hitherto been described. It is of particular interest that in this patient hypercalcemia was not observed, although it often accompanied CSF‐producing tumors reported previously. Therefore, it is suggested that this tumor secreted pure CSF and that the CSF produced by the tumor did not necessarily induce hypercalcemia.