Circulating pancreatic polypeptide in patients with adenocarcinoma of the bile duct.

Overview

Using radioimmunoassay methods, the blood of patients with pancreatic tumors was screened for circulating polypeptide hormones. This screening discovered pancreatic polypeptide in abnormally high concentration in the serum of six of seven patients with adenocarcinomas of the bile duct. The assay appears to be very sensitive finding excessive residual pancreatic polypeptide production after palliative resections. Serum pancreatic polypeptide assays warrant evaluation as an aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with bile duct tumors.