title: Serum beta-HCG and CA-125 as tumor markers in a patient with osteosarcoma: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated beta-HCG serum levels are usually an indication of pregnancy or pregnancy-related disorders, but beta-HCG can also be elevated in testis and germ cell tumors. HCG expression by osteosarcoma is a rare phenomenon, with a few documented cases. CA-125 is commonly used to monitor disease progression and treatment response in ovarian cancer. CA-125 expression in patients with osteosarcoma has not previously been documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elevated beta-HCG and CA-125 serum levels were observed in a female patient of 57 years of age with metastatic osteosarcoma during screening investigations prior to participation in a phase I clinical trial. Pregnancy was excluded. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the tumor to be the source of the elevated beta-HCG serum levels. We found no CA-125 expression in tumor tissue. The patient was treated with E7080, a novel oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. We measured serum beta-HCG and CA-125 to monitor treatment response. She had a significant clinical and radiological response after two cycles of treatment, but developed progressive disease after the third cycle. The beta-HCG serum levels seemed to better reflect her disease status than those of the other tumor marker, CA-125.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When elevated, beta-HCG serum levels in patients with osteosarcoma might be used to monitor treatment. Treatment of advanced osteosarcoma with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including E7080, warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Division of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. david_s_boss@hotmail.com
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Boss
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glen
authors.forename: Jos H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Jantien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wanders
authors.forename: T R Jeffry
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jan H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schellens
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human