BetaHCG secretion by a pulmonary adenocarcinoma

World J Surg Oncol. 2013 Sep 14:11:228. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-11-228.

Abstract

We report a rare case of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer in a 43-year-old woman with a history of smoking. The tumor secreted human chorionic gonadotropin and its beta subunit (BetaHCG). The patient presented with amenorrhea, a positive pregnancy test and chest pain. A physical examination and investigations revealed no pregnancy, and it was determined that a paraneoplastic syndrome stemming from a pulmonary tumor was responsible for the secretion of BetaHCG. This secretion decreased with tumor response to chemotherapy. Only a few reports of paraneoplastic BetaHCG secretion can be found in the literature for several different cancers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / metabolism*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human