[Tumor markers in gynecologic malignancies]

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is widely used as a tumor specific index substance for the trophoblastic disease. The radioimmunoassay (RIA) of the C-terminal peptide of hCG-beta subunit can detect hCG up to the level of 0.5 IU/day in urine or 0.5mIU/ml in serum without cross-reactivity with luteinizing hormone. Therefore, this RIA would be used as a hCG-specific assay method in order to ensure the disease is in complete remission and to detect early recurrence. Alpha-fetoprotein and lactic dehydrogenase can be used as a sensitive tumor marker for embryonal carcinoma and dysgerminoma respectively. Carcinoembryonic antigen may serve as a valuable aid in monitoring the response to the therapy of the patient with ovarian or cervical carcinoma, but may not be useful for early detection of these diseases.