title: Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin in serum of testicular cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-h) contains larger and more complex carbohydrate chains than regular human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG-h is thought to be the major form of hCG produced by testicular cancers and it has been suggested to play a key role in tumor invasion, but studies on hCG-h in testicular cancer are limited. We studied whether serum hCG is hyperglycosylated, and whether measurement of hCG-h in serum offers clinical value in the management of testicular cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the serum concentrations of hCG-h, hCG, and the free β subunit of hCG (hCGβ) by time-resolved immunofluorometric assays in 176 serum samples (preoperative n = 67, relapse n = 20, follow-up n = 89) obtained from 84 testicular cancer patients. We analyzed the association between preoperative serum concentrations of hCG, hCG-h, and hCGβ with known prognostic factors and progression-free survival time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A major proportion of hCG was hyperglycosylated preoperatively, at relapse, and shortly after treatment. The serum concentrations of hCG-h and hCG correlated strongly with each other and had similar diagnostic value. The preoperative serum concentration of hCG-h correlated with prognostic factors and outcome in the same way as hCG. Increased preoperative hCGβ concentration predicted shorter progression-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the hCG expressed by testicular cancers is hyperglycosylated and therefore it is important that hCG assays used for management of testicular cancer recognize hCG-h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory Division-HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland. anna.lempiainen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lempiäinen
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotakainen
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Ulf-Håkan
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D018239:Seminoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; C024889:glycosylated HCG