Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin: a case report.
The ectopic production of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is described in a patient with an anaplastic carcinoma. After chemotherapy the marker decreased in a logarithmic fashion to undetectable levels but the neoplasm progressed and the patient died. The specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG is discussed. Discordance of the marker and clinical disease is pointed out, and several possible explanations are outlined. The lack of specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG and the discordance that it may exhibit means that its use in diagnosing and following disease progression may be limited.
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D002955:Leucovorin; D008727:Methotrexate