Interleukin-6-producing giant cell carcinoma of the lung with multicentric Castleman's disease-like presentation

Abstract

We encountered a 59-year-old man with advanced lung cancer with multiple swollen lymph nodes. At autopsy the lung cancer was revealed as giant cell carcinoma. Microscopic examination showed no cancer cells, but there was polyclonal proliferation of plasma cells in the lymph nodes and in the bone marrow. In the kidneys, proliferation of mesangial matrices and mesangial cells was found. This presentation resembled multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), in which interleukin-6 (IL-6) has a great role. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for IL-6 in cancer cells. This is the first reported case of an IL-6-producing giant cell carcinoma of the lung with MCD-like presentation.

Yasutomi Higashikuni, M.D., Ph.D., FESC

Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular and Genetic Research

My research interests include homeostatic inflammation, RNA metabolism and modification, and synthetic biology.