Placental proteins and their subunits as tumor markers in prostatic carcinoma

Sixteen patients with Stage D adenocarcinoma of the prostate were prospectively evaluated for the presence of human placental lactogen (hPL), placental alkaline phosphatase (PAP), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ectopic production of hCG was found in one of the 16 cases and is described in detail. Serial serum hCG levels in that patient mirrored his course more reliably than concomitant acid phosphatase levels. Serum estradiol, testosterone, the hCG-alpha subunit, hPL and PAP were not elevated. There was a minimal elevation of serum FSH. There were no elevations of the other placental proteins in ten evaluable cases. A retrospective evaluation of serum bank specimens from 47 patients with prostatic carcinoma revealed no elevation of the placental proteins hPL, hCG-beta, and hCG-alpha. To our knowledge this report documents the first case of a chorionic gonadotropin-producing prostatic carcinoma appearing the literature.