Ectopic Production of Erythropoietin in Wilms Tumor Patients in Relation to Clinical Stage and Disease Activity

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Abstract
Measurement of erythropoietin levels was achieved in urine, plasma and tumor extract specimens in 27 Wilms tumor patients. Good correlation of the stage of the disease, the clinical judgment of inactive or responding tumor foci and erythropoietin levels was noted. Erythropoietin levels are believed to reflect ectopic hormone production by the primary or secondary tumor. Since the erythropoietin hormone assayed in these and other Wilms tumor patients was not associated with polycythemia, it is believed that Wilms tumor-associated erythropoietin differs in some manner from the hormone produced normally in man and possible in other states associated with secondary polycythemia. Etythropoietin assay with further purification and technical development can be of additional widespread assistance in the clinical classification and subsequent management of the tumor state. Our study confirms this biological potential.