Urinary gonadotropin fragments (UGF) in cancers of the female reproductive system. II. Initial serial studies

Levels of UGF, which constitute the free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, asialo free beta-subunit, and a core fragment of asialo free beta-subunit, detected by a single immunoradiometric assay, were monitored in the urines of 28 woman undergoing therapy for gynecologic cancer (3 cervical, 8 endometrial, and 17 ovarian). During a 7-month study, 24 of the 28 woman had elevated UGF levels (greater than 0.2 ng/ml). Correlation was observed of UGF levels and changing clinical status during therapy in 23 of these 24. Normal range CA 125 (less than 35 U/ml) was found throughout the study period in 4 of 14 woman undergoing therapy for serous ovarian malignancy. Three of the 4 had elevated UGF levels which accurately followed the course of their disease. These preliminary studies suggest that in monitoring therapy of gynecologic cancers UGF, alone or with CA 125, warrants evaluation.