title: [Should elevated beta-HCG levels be an exclusion criteria in clinical trials? A case report of paraneoplastic secretion associated with lung adenocarcinoma].
abstract: We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and bone metastases who was diagnosed with paraneoplastic secretion of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) while being screened for inclusion in a clinical trial. Immunohistochemistry analysis of a bone biopsy revealed strong staining of cancer cells with anti-beta HCG antibodies. Serial measurements of circulating Beta HCG seemed to be influenced by antineoplastic treatments, although they were not strictly associated with tumour evolution assessed by CT scans. Little is known about paraneoplastic secretion of beta HCG, although it has been found in 12% to 24% of non-small cell lung cancers. Usefulness of serial measurements of beta HCG for monitoring NSCLC has yet to be demonstrated, but its use as a criterion for inclusion in clinical trials needs to be questioned.
authors: Service de pneumologie et oncologie thoracique, hôpital Calmette, CHRU de Lille, boulevard du Pr-Leclercq, 59037 Lille, France.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Taverne
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Delourme
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Dhalluin
authors: M-C
authors: MC
authors: Copin
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Scherpereel
authors: J-J
authors: JJ
authors: Lafitte
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Cortot
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018579:Patient Selection; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human