title: The effects of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin on the in vitro growth of bladder cancer cell lines.
abstract: The effects of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and its subunits on in vitro bladder cancer cell growth have been assessed using the a tetrazolium salt reduction assay (MTT). Intact hCG, alpha-hCG and beta-core hCG all had no effect on cell growth, while beta-hCG increased MTT reduction in all four bladder cancer lines tested. The magnitude of beta-hCG stimulation was maximal in the T24 line, which does not itself produce beta-hCG and appeared to be correspondingly lower in beta-hCG-secreting lines. The addition of antibodies to beta-hCG inhibited MTT reduction among high secretors but failed to inhibit MTT reduction in non-beta-hCG producers. These results are consistent with the poor prognosis associated with beta-hCG expression by bladder tumours in vivo and suggest an autocrine/paracrine stimulation of tumour growth by endogenously produced beta-hCG.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Reproductive Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gillott
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Iles
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chard
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006133:Growth Substances; D006801:Humans; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D006133:Growth Substances