Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 30:291-294 (2000)
© 2000 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
Levels of ß-human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Malignant Germ Cell Tumor Can Be Used to Detect Early Recurrence and Monitor the Response to Treatment
Departments of 1Neurosurgery and 2Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Background: Tumor marker-producing germ cell tumors of the central nervous system are malignant and require radiation and/or chemotherapy. Although serum ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used to monitor the course of treatment, the levels of ß-hCG in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have not been measured routinely in the clinic. To determine whether they can be used to evaluate parameters of tumor status, such as progression or response to therapy, levels of ß-hCG in the serum and CSF of patients with germ cell tumors were studied.
Methods: Fifty-four paired samples of CSF and serum were taken from seven patients with germ cell tumor and their ß-hCG levels were measured. ß-hCG was negative in both serum and CSF in 11 instances and the levels in the other 43 paired samples were analyzed for any correlation or relationship to therapy. They were also compared with the clinical courses.
Results: The mean CSF ß-hCG level was 11.5 mIU/ml, which was significantly higher than the level in serum (3.5, p = 0.002). In all the paired samples except for one time point, the level in CSF was higher than that in serum. Out of 43 instances where the ß-hCG level in CSF was elevated, the level in serum was elevated in only 16 (37.2%). Among cases of recurrent malignant germ cell tumor, there were nine instances of recurrence or progression despite therapy. In all five instances where ß-hCG CSF levels were measured, the levels were elevated prior to any increase or detectability of the serum values.
Conclusion: It seems likely that the level of ß-hCG in CSF is a good marker for monitoring tumor recurrence or evaluation of treatment results.
+ For reprints and all correspondence: Takamitsu Fujimaki, Department of Neurosurgery, Teikyo University, 2–11–1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8606, Japan. E-mail: tfujimak-tky@umin.ac.jp
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