Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular germ cell tumors.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We have shown that most patients with seminomas have elevated serum concentrations of the free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ) and that in nonseminomatous testicular cancer, most of the hCG in the serum is hyperglycosylated (hCG-h). However, the tissue expression of hCG-h or hCGβ in germ cell tumors (GCTs) has not been reported. Our objective was to study the expression and diagnostic value of hCG-h and hCGβ in testicular GCTs.

METHODS:

We studied the immunohistochemical expression of hCG, hCG-h, hCGβ, and the free α subunit of hCG (hCGα) in GCTs from 154 patients. We compared the tissue expression with serum concentrations and evaluated the correlation between staining intensity, established prognostic variables, and outcome.

RESULTS:

The expression varied between tumor types. All forms of hCG, including hCG-h, were detected in embryonal carcinomas (22%) and mixed GCTs (48%). Polyclonal hCG and monoclonal hCGβ antibodies detected immunoreactivity in some seminomas (7%). No form of hCG was found in spermatocytic seminomas, pure teratomas, or a yolk sac tumor. The serum concentrations correlated with the corresponding tumor expression. The staining intensities of hCG, hCGβ, hCG-h, and hCGα correlated with disease stage but not significantly with relapse, disease-related mortality, or progression-free survival.

CONCLUSION:

Trophoblastic tissue expresses hCG, hCG-h, and free subunits together whereas seminoma tissue occasionally expresses hCGβ. This difference might aid in differential diagnosis of some difficult-to-classify cases.

• Authors: Anna Lempiäinen, Anna Sankila, Kristina Hotakainen, Caj Haglund, Carl Blomqvist, Ulf-Håkan Stenman
• Journal: Urologic oncology (Urol Oncol) Vol. 32 Issue 5 Pg. 727-34 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1873-2496 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24502963 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin

Topics

• Chorionic Gonadotropin (metabolism)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal (metabolism)
• Recurrence
• Remission Induction
• Seminoma (metabolism)
• Testicular Neoplasms (metabolism)