Concepts in ectopic hormone production.

Non-endocrine tumours are capable of production of ectopic hormones, precursor molecules subunits and hormone-related fragments. The measurement of these may provide biochemical markers of malignancy, allowing presymptomatic diagnosis which may lead ultimately to an improved prognosis for the patient. The study of ectopic humoral syndromes may yield new insights into the nature of cellular differentation and the fundamental process of malignant change.