title: A preliminary investigation of Beta-hCG expression in patients with osteosarcoma.
abstract: There are eight reported cases in the literature of osteosarcomas secreting β-hCG. Our primary aim was to investigate the rate of β-hCG expression in osteosarcoma and attempt to understand the characteristics of osteosarcomas that secrete β-hCG. We reviewed 37 histopathology slides (14 biopsies and 23 surgical specimens) from 32 patients with osteosarcoma. The slides were retrospectively stained for β-hCG expression. Patient and tumour characteristics, including age, gender, tumour location, subtype, proportion of necrosis, presence of metastases and recurrence were recorded. A total of five of the 32 tumours were found to be positive for β-hCG expression (one strongly and four weakly). This incidence of this expression was found in tumours with poor histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of β-hCG expression as a diagnostic, prognostic or follow-up marker is questionable and needs further investigation with a larger sample size.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut Medical Center, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: K Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Masrouha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khattab
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saghieh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Khoury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins