Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma or germ cell tumors. AFP-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is very rare. We report a case of bladder urothelial carcinoma with significantly elevated AFP levels. A 60-year-old man was a...

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Main Authors: Haibing Huang, Youping Ding, Yuju Fang, Kunlin Xie, Chengyong Zhong, Haiye Fan, Xiaofeng Zou, Tianpeng Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1581665/full
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author Haibing Huang
Youping Ding
Yuju Fang
Kunlin Xie
Chengyong Zhong
Haiye Fan
Xiaofeng Zou
Tianpeng Xie
author_facet Haibing Huang
Youping Ding
Yuju Fang
Kunlin Xie
Chengyong Zhong
Haiye Fan
Xiaofeng Zou
Tianpeng Xie
author_sort Haibing Huang
collection DOAJ
description Elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma or germ cell tumors. AFP-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is very rare. We report a case of bladder urothelial carcinoma with significantly elevated AFP levels. A 60-year-old man was admitted for gross hematuria. Computed tomography urography revealed multiple large tumors of the bladder. The serum level of AFP was up to 2,329 ng/ml. No hepatic tumors or testicular tumors were detected. Although the hepatitis B surface antigen test was positive, the liver function test was normal. The patient underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion. Postoperative pathology revealed high-grade muscle invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma and immunohistochemical staining of the tumor cells showed strong AFP positivity. After surgery, the patient’s serum AFP levels dropped sharply and decreased to normal 4 weeks after the operation. In conclusion, AFP-producing bladder urothelial carcinoma is rare, and the mechanism and pathophysiology remain unclear and require further investigation.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-71a6f3d2b75841b78f93b186892e69b02025-08-20T02:16:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-05-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15816651581665Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladderHaibing Huang0Youping Ding1Yuju Fang2Kunlin Xie3Chengyong Zhong4Haiye Fan5Xiaofeng Zou6Tianpeng Xie7First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaCenter of Medical Big Data and Bioinformatics Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaFirst Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaFirst Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, ChinaElevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma or germ cell tumors. AFP-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is very rare. We report a case of bladder urothelial carcinoma with significantly elevated AFP levels. A 60-year-old man was admitted for gross hematuria. Computed tomography urography revealed multiple large tumors of the bladder. The serum level of AFP was up to 2,329 ng/ml. No hepatic tumors or testicular tumors were detected. Although the hepatitis B surface antigen test was positive, the liver function test was normal. The patient underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion. Postoperative pathology revealed high-grade muscle invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma and immunohistochemical staining of the tumor cells showed strong AFP positivity. After surgery, the patient’s serum AFP levels dropped sharply and decreased to normal 4 weeks after the operation. In conclusion, AFP-producing bladder urothelial carcinoma is rare, and the mechanism and pathophysiology remain unclear and require further investigation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1581665/fullalpha-fetoproteinurothelial carcinomabladder cancerradical cystectomycase report
spellingShingle Haibing Huang
Youping Ding
Yuju Fang
Kunlin Xie
Chengyong Zhong
Haiye Fan
Xiaofeng Zou
Tianpeng Xie
Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
Frontiers in Oncology
alpha-fetoprotein
urothelial carcinoma
bladder cancer
radical cystectomy
case report
title Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
title_full Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
title_fullStr Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
title_short Case Report: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
title_sort case report alpha fetoprotein producing urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
topic alpha-fetoprotein
urothelial carcinoma
bladder cancer
radical cystectomy
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1581665/full
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