A preliminary investigation of Beta-hCG expression in patients with osteosarcoma

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2012 Mar;94(3):419-24. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.94B3.27679.

Abstract

There are eight reported cases in the literature of osteosarcomas secreting β-hCG. Our primary aim was to investigate the rate of β-hCG expression in osteosarcoma and attempt to understand the characteristics of osteosarcomas that secrete β-hCG. We reviewed 37 histopathology slides (14 biopsies and 23 surgical specimens) from 32 patients with osteosarcoma. The slides were retrospectively stained for β-hCG expression. Patient and tumour characteristics, including age, gender, tumour location, subtype, proportion of necrosis, presence of metastases and recurrence were recorded. A total of five of the 32 tumours were found to be positive for β-hCG expression (one strongly and four weakly). This incidence of this expression was found in tumours with poor histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of β-hCG expression as a diagnostic, prognostic or follow-up marker is questionable and needs further investigation with a larger sample size.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Child
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Osteosarcoma / drug therapy
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism*
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Osteosarcoma / secondary
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
  • Neoplasm Proteins