title: Alpha-subunit and human chorionic gonadotropin-beta immunoreactivity in patients with malignant endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours.
abstract: In the serum of patients with malignant endocrine gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tumours, both alpha-subunit (alpha-SU), common to all glycoprotein hormones, as well as free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-beta) have been reported to be elevated in a substantial fraction. Both have been discussed as markers of malignancy in these neoplasms. In the present study we evaluated the diagnostic significance of alpha-SU and hCG-beta as serum markers in patients with malignant endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours. The study group consisted of 52 patients with endocrine GEP-malignancies (24 nonfunctioning, 23 carcinoid syndromes, four gastrinoma, one glucagonoma), located in the small intestine (n = 29), pancreas (n = 17), colon or rectum (n = 3), retroperitoneum (n = 2) and stomach (n = 1). alpha-SU and hCG-beta immunoreactivity was also assessed in the serum of patients with benign GEP-tumors (five insulinoma, and three gastrinoma). Concentrations of alpha-SU and hCG-beta were determined using two highly sensitive and specific immunoradiometric assays employing two monoclonal antibodies each. In 19 of 52 patients (37%), either alpha-SU (n = 9), hCG-beta (n = 7) or both subunits (n = 3) were elevated. In the subgroup of 24 patients with nonfunctioning GEP-tumours, increased concentrations of either alpha-SU (n = 6) or hCG-beta(n = 3) or both subunits (n = 1) were found in 10 of 24 patients (42%). In four of 23 patients with carcinoid syndrome (17%), either alpha-SU (n = 2), hCG-beta(n = 1) or both subunits (n = 1) were above the normal range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grossmann
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poertl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoermann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000097:blood*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments