title: Ectopic human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) production: is the detection by serum analysis of HCG of clinical relevance in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential value of ectopic beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG) measurement in the clinical management of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective serological study of 163 consecutive patients undergoing cystoscopy as new or review cases was performed to assess any correlation between beta HCG production and histological grading or stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten per cent of patients with TCC had a raised beta HCG level but there was no correlation with tumour differentiation, staging or prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  beta HCG has no role as a tumour marker for TCC and therefore appears unlikely to play a part in the clinical management or treatment of urothelial tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chapple
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic