Significance of simultaneous determination of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and hCG-beta in testicular tumor patients.
BACKGROUND
Simultaneous determinations of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and hCG-beta frequently produce discrepancies, that is when hCG or hCG-beta is normal, the other is elevated. Accordingly, we examined the significance of simultaneous determination of serum hCG and hCG-beta in testicular tumors.


METHODS
Simultaneous determination of hCG and hCG-beta was performed in 54 patients with testicular seminoma and 74 with non-seminomatous testicular tumors.


RESULTS
For detection of seminoma patients, hCG-beta was more effective than hCG because hCG-beta was positive in 83% (45/54) of the patients and hCG was positive in 50% (27/54). In non-seminomatous testicular tumor cases, hCG-beta was positive in 74% (55/74) and hCG was positive in 82% (61/74). The cases of hCG<1.0 mIU/mL and HCG-beta>0.1 ng/mL were significantly more frequently seen in patients with seminoma than in those with non-seminomatous testicular tumor (P < 0.001). Fourteen patients had recurrent tumor. At recurrence, only hCG was elevated in nine cases, only hCG-beta was elevated in two cases and both in one case. For diagnosis of falsely positive hCG, testosterone administration was effective because after testosterone administration, serum hCG levels became undetectable (< 1.0 mIU/mL) within one week in three examined cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Human chorionic gonadotropin-beta was a better marker of seminoma than hCG. For earlier detection of recurrence, both markers should be examined. For diagnosis of falsely positive hCG, testosterone administration was effective.
Hoshi
S
S
Department of Urology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. hoshi@uro.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Suzuki
K
K
Ishidoya
S
S
Ohyama
C
C
Sato
M
M
Namima
T
T
Saito
S
S
Orikasa
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018239:Seminoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human