Skin metastases of gynecologic adenocarcinomas affect serum levels of hCGbeta but not those of SCC antigen.
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) has been shown to be elevated in patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix but also in patients with benign tumors of epithelial origin and in benign skin disorders. Elevated serum levels of the free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGbeta) have been observed in patients with cancer of different types, and cancer aggressiveness is related to hCGbeta expression. Therefore, we expected that extensive metastatic skin dissemination of gynecologic malignancies would cause a rise in the serum levels of SCC-Ag and hCGbeta. The serum levels of SCC-Ag, hCGbeta and CA 125 were monitored in 2 patients with extensive skin dissemination of ovarian and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Skin metastases had no effect on serum levels of SCC-Ag but they caused an increase in serum levels of hCGbeta. SCC-Ag is not a marker for metastatic skin lesions of gynecologic carcinomas of nonepidermoid origin. hCGbeta expression is associated with aggressiveness of cancer and may be a useful marker indicating therapy resistance.
Lehtovirta
P
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. pentii.lehtovirta@huch.fi
Alfthan
H
H
Vartiainen
J
J
Stenman
U
U
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015843:Serpins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen