In vitro secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin by bladder tumour cells.
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alphafetoprotein (AFP) were measured in culture media from a panel of 29 cell lines including 9 bladder carcinomas, 5 'normal' bladder epithelia, 10 germ cell tumours, and 5 miscellaneous tumours and 'normal' cell lines. In 7 of the 9 bladder carcinomas and 4 of the 5 'normal' bladder epithelia, the media contained hCG at levels ranging from between 34 and 3,600 IU l(-1). All other cell lines, including the 10 germ cell tumour lines gave negative results for hCG. These findings indicate that in vitro secretion of hCG is a common feature of normal and neoplastic bladder transitional epithelia, and support the hypothesis that parts of the genito-urinary epithelium have a potential for hCG production.
D002460:Cell Line; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins