Ectopic secretion of complete human chorionic gonadotropin and beta-subunit by human cervical carcinoma cells lines

The CaSki and DoT cervical cancer cell lines were reported to secrete the beta-subunit of hCG in the absence of complete hCG or alpha-subunit (Science 196: 1456, 1977; J Clin Endocrinol Metab 46: 69, 1978). In the present study, concentrates of fluids from large numbers of CaSki or DoT cultures were analyzed for the presence of hCG beta and complete hCG. Although some CaSki and DoT preparations contained no detectable complete hCG, others were found to contain as much as 18% hCG. The reason for the variation in the amount of hCG relative to hCG beta in CaSki and DoT cultures is unknown.