Detection of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin expressing cells by nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood stem cells of patients with advanced germ cell tumor.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We investigated whether peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were contaminated by tumor cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 13 patients with advanced testicular cancer underwent PBSC transplantation at our institute. Nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detected 1 beta-HCG or AFP producing cell in 1 x 10(6) PBSCs.

RESULTS:

Although AFP messenger (m) RNA was not identified in any of the 13 patients, beta-HCG mRNA was detected in 7. All patients with beta-HCG mRNA in PBSCs had elevated serum beta-HCG before treatment. Three patients with a normal beta-HCG range before treatment did not have beta-HCG mRNA in the PBSCs. The serum beta-HCG level in the patients whose PBSCs were contaminated with tumor cells was significantly higher than in patients whose PBSCs contained no tumor cells. Four of the 7 patients with beta-HCG mRNA in PBSCs eventually died of cancer, whereas those whose PBSCs were not contaminated with tumor cells survived without disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with elevated serum beta-HCG levels are likely to have PBSCs contaminated by tumor cells. Moreover, the prognosis of patients with tumor cells in the PBSCs is poor.

• Authors: Isao Hara, Yuji Yamada, Hideaki Miyake, Shoji Hara, Akinobu Gotoh, Masato Fujisawa, Hiroshi Okada, Soichi Arakawa, Sadao Kamidono
• Journal: The Journal of urology (J Urol) Vol. 167 Issue 3 Pg. 1487-91 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 0022-5347 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11832775 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
• DNA Primers

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Blood Component Removal
• Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human (blood)
• DNA Primers
• Germinoma (blood, pathology)
• Humans
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Testicular Neoplasms (blood, pathology)