Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotrophin by human breast tumours

The incidence of tumours ectopically producing the human chorionic gonadotrophins was studied in patients with breast cancer. Specific radioimmunoassay of subunits of HCG was utilized. Nine out of 65 patients with carcinoma of breast showed the presence of circulating HCG. Patients with other pathological conditions of breast tissue did not show any evidence of circulating HCG.