Ureteral cancer producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: a case report

A 60-year-old man who underwent radical nephroureterectomy due to left ureteral cancer 22 months before (transitional cell carcinoma, pT4pN0Mx, grade 2, INF beta), was admitted to the hospital with the chief compliant of anorexia and body weight loss. The patient had severe leukocytosis and elevation of C-reactive protein, with no obvious focus of infection. Abdominal plain computed tomographic scan revealed left external ileac lymph node swelling. Positron emission tomography demonstrated left external ileac lymph node recurrence. Enzyme immunoassay of the serum demonstrated a markedly high concentration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 790 pg/ml). Immunohistochemical examination of ureteral cancer cells with anti-G-CSF monoclonal antibody demonstrated G-CSF production in cancer cells. After diagnosed as lymph node recurrence of ureteral cancer producing G-CSF, the patient underwent radiotherapy (total 4000 Gy). CT after radiotherapy showed the complete disappearance of the lymph node swelling. To our knowledge, this is the second report of ureteral cancer proven to produce G-CSF in Japan.