Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: Tumor Marker in Testicular Cancer

Function of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 40.000 Dalton. HCG consists of a alpha and beta subunit. During pregnancy, HCG is produced by the placenta to maintain the corpus luteum.

Reference Level of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Men

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) should be below 5 mIU/ml in men and in non-pregnant females. Half-life of HCG is 24–36 h.

Increased Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

In men: testicular cancer.
In women: pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy
Rare HCG-production in malignant tumors of liver, pancreas, stomach, lung, breast and kidney.

Testicular Cancer and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is produced in germ cell tumors with chorioncarcinoma or with syncytiotrophoblast giant cells (seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, dysgerminoma). In choriocarcinoma, HCG concentration correlates almost linearly with the tumor mass. Approximately, 10 mIU/ml HCG equals about 1.000.000 tumor cells.

Tumor marker AFP

Index

Testis diseases

Index: 1–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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References

Deutsche Version: Tumormarker HCG (humanes Choriongonadotropin)

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