title: Preoperative serum hCGbeta as a prognostic marker in primary fallopian tube carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to evaluate the prognostic value of the pretreatment serum concentrations of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGbeta), CA 125 and tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) in primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The pretreatment serum concentrations of hCGbeta, CA 125 and TATI were analyzed in serum samples from 60 women with a mean age of 61 years, treated for PFTC between 1985 and 2000. Of the 91 patients treated during this period, 31 were excluded because no serum sample was available. The patients were followed-up for recurrence and survival until February 14, 2003. The prognostic value of the serum markers were compared with those of stage, grade and histological type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival time was 27 months and the overall 5-year survival rate 33%. Stage and size of the residual tumour (<1 vs. > or =1 cm) predicted both overall and disease-free survival (p < 0.050). Histology (serous vs. others) (p = 0.023) also influenced overall survival. Overall 5-year survival was 38% when serum hCGbeta was below 3.5 pmol/l, while it was 18% when the level was higher (p = 0.052). The corresponding disease-free 5-year survival was 38 and 20%, respectively (p = 0.014). Patients with CA 125 values above 1,017 kU/l had an overall 5-year survival of 39% as compared with 14% for those with lower values (p = 0.009), while the disease-free survival was 37 and 23%, respectively (p = 0.096). Serum TATI was not a prognostic marker. Serum concentrations of hCGbeta and CA 125 correlated significantly with stage (p = 0.049 and p = 0.050, respectively). In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, only hCGbeta, stage and histology emerged as independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clearly elevated serum concentrations of hCGbeta and CA 125 predict survival in fallopian tube carcinoma, but in multivariate analyses, only hCGbeta is a prognostic factor independent of stage and histology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riska
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jalkanen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sorvari
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leminen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic