HCG-alpha and HCG-beta subunits as tumour markers during therapy in a case with so-called "non-functioning" islet cell tumour.
A 61-year-old man with a malignant endocrine pancreatic tumour, so-called "non-functioning" islet cell tumour, is described. The tumour consisted of enterochromaffin-like cells with positive immunocytochemistry for gastrin, glucagon and VIP, but neither of these or other peptides were elevated in the circulation. Elevated serum levels of HCG-alpha and HCG-beta subunits were found. They seemed to be valuable tumour markers during cytotoxic therapy.
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005755:Gastrins; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D005934:Glucagon