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 |
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Deutsche Version: Tumormarker HCG (humanes Choriongonadotropin)
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Dr. med. Dirk Manski
man...@urologielehrbuch.de