[Human chorionic gonadotropin-like substance (hCGLS) in male patients with gastrointestinal cancer]

Human chorionic gonadotropin-like substance and beta-subunit hCG were measured by a double antibody radioimmunoassay in blood and cancer tissue from male patients with gastrointestinal cancer Elevated serum hCGLS levels were observed in 6/8 (75%) of male patients with early gastric cancer, 14/22 (63.7%) with resectable, 4/10 (40%) with unresectable gastric cancer and 10/13 (76.7%) with resectable colorectal cancer. In benign diseases none had an elevated level in serum hCGLS. Serum hCGLS levels showed a declining tendency with progress of disease as well as with low histologic differentiation. HCGLS levels in gastric and colorectal cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in normal mucosal tissue. There were no correlation between hCGLS and beta-subunit hCGLS tissue levels and tumor size was observed in colorectal cancer, while not in gastric cancer. Thus, hCGLS may be of practical value in complementary diagnosis of male gastrointestinal cancer.