Hypercalcemia in metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: a case report of ectopic 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D production by tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages
Conversion of 25OHD into 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D by 1-alpha hydroxylase represents a lesser-known NET-associated hypercalcemia. This is the first case to localize 1-alpha hydroxylase expression in NETs, and also to report its expression in TAMs. Given that this form of hypercalcemia is responsive to glucocorticoid therapy, measurement of serum 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D should be considered in patients with NET presenting with hypercalcemia. Furthermore, these findings highlight a potential role for TAMs in ectopic hormone production and suggest they may serve as therapeutic targets in 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D-mediated malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.
Authors
- Koroush S. Haghighi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3834-463X)
- Frédéric Sierro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5004-8414)
- Ayanthi Wijewardene (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7868-1545)
- A J Gill
- Sue Mei Lau
Institutions
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (AU)
- Royal North Shore Hospital (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.21037/jgo-2025-616
- Primary Topic
- Vitamin D Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00