Path. Res. Pract. 187, 503-507 (1991)
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Esophageal Carcinomas An Immunohistochemical Study I. Trias, E. Campo1,2, C. Benasco, A. Palacin 1 and A. Cardesa Departments of Pathology, Hospital de 8eJlvitge "Princeps d'Espanya': I Hospital Clinico y Provincial de Barcelona, and 2Facultad de Medicina, Estudi General de Lieida, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain
SUMMARY We have examined immunohistochemica/ly the presence of human chorionic gonadotro-
phin (hCG) in 29 esophageal carcinomas: 24 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 adenocarcinomas, 2 adenoid cystic carcinomas and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. In heG-positive
tumors, the presence of human placental lactogen (h PI) and pregnancy-specific beta-l glycoprotein (SP-l) was also assessed. HCG immunoreactive cells were found in 5 squamous cell carcinomas (2 1%) and in none of 5 non-squamous cell tumors. The hCG positive cells were found in the most infiltrating areas of the tumors where poorly differentiated and pleomorphic cells predominated. The positive tumors were 4 poorly differentiated (3 1 %) and one moderately differentiated carcinoma (12%). Four out of 10 cases (40%) with lymph node metastases had hCG in the primary tumor, whereas only one out of 11 cases (9%) without metastases was hCG positive. HPL and SP-l were found in two cases. These placental proteins were detected in similar areas than hCG but the number of hP Land SP-l immunoreactive cells was lower than hCG positive cells. SP-J was also seen in areas of squamous cell differentiation negative for heG. None of these two cases showed trophoblastic differentiation.
Introduction Human chorionic gonadotropin (heG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the normal placental syncytiotrophoblast and gestational and non-gestational trophoblastic tumors 2. 25 ,33 . The heG production in these situations is usually associated with the synthesis of other placental proteins such as human placental lactogen (hPL) and pregnancy-spccific-beta-l glycoprotein (51'-1 p, 19. 25,27,28. Several studies have now demonstrated the presence of heG and other placental proteins in visceral non-germ cell tumors 4 • 14 • 15,2.\ . The biological significance of the placental protein production by non-trophoblastic neoplasm is not clear. In some cases, heG has mainly been found in the most undifferentiated areas of the tumors 7,8,18,23, and a relationship between their presence and a more aggressive behaviour of the tumor has been suggested l8 , 31 Human © 1991 hy Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart
placental lactogen and 51'-1 have been less assessed in visceral non-trophoblastic neoplasms. Gastro~intestinal adenocarcinomas have been shown to
be associated with a high incidence of heG production 6, 7, 12.13, 18. Esophageal carcinomas, as other squamous cell carcinomas, however, have not been so intensively studied. Serum studies have failed to demonstrate heG in patients with esophageal carcinomas". 15,25. Only three isolated cases of esophageal heG producing tumors have been reported and none of them was a squamous cell carcinoma 21 ,26,32 The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of heG production in esophageal carcinomas, to detect the expression of other placental proteins (hPL and SP-1 ) in heG positive cases, and to correlate the presence of these trophoblastic markers with several clinicopathologic parameters. 0.144-033819110187-0503$3.50/0
504 . 1. Trias
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Esophageal Carcinomas An Immunohistochemical Study I. Trias, E. Campo1,2, C. Benasco, A. Palacin 1 and A. Cardesa Departments of Pathology, Hospital de 8eJlvitge "Princeps d'Espanya': I Hospital Clinico y Provincial de Barcelona, and 2Facultad de Medicina, Estudi General de Lieida, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain
SUMMARY We have examined immunohistochemica/ly the presence of human chorionic gonadotro-
phin (hCG) in 29 esophageal carcinomas: 24 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 adenocarcinomas, 2 adenoid cystic carcinomas and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. In heG-positive
tumors, the presence of human placental lactogen (h PI) and pregnancy-specific beta-l glycoprotein (SP-l) was also assessed. HCG immunoreactive cells were found in 5 squamous cell carcinomas (2 1%) and in none of 5 non-squamous cell tumors. The hCG positive cells were found in the most infiltrating areas of the tumors where poorly differentiated and pleomorphic cells predominated. The positive tumors were 4 poorly differentiated (3 1 %) and one moderately differentiated carcinoma (12%). Four out of 10 cases (40%) with lymph node metastases had hCG in the primary tumor, whereas only one out of 11 cases (9%) without metastases was hCG positive. HPL and SP-l were found in two cases. These placental proteins were detected in similar areas than hCG but the number of hP Land SP-l immunoreactive cells was lower than hCG positive cells. SP-J was also seen in areas of squamous cell differentiation negative for heG. None of these two cases showed trophoblastic differentiation.
Introduction Human chorionic gonadotropin (heG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the normal placental syncytiotrophoblast and gestational and non-gestational trophoblastic tumors 2. 25 ,33 . The heG production in these situations is usually associated with the synthesis of other placental proteins such as human placental lactogen (hPL) and pregnancy-spccific-beta-l glycoprotein (51'-1 p, 19. 25,27,28. Several studies have now demonstrated the presence of heG and other placental proteins in visceral non-germ cell tumors 4 • 14 • 15,2.\ . The biological significance of the placental protein production by non-trophoblastic neoplasm is not clear. In some cases, heG has mainly been found in the most undifferentiated areas of the tumors 7,8,18,23, and a relationship between their presence and a more aggressive behaviour of the tumor has been suggested l8 , 31 Human © 1991 hy Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart
placental lactogen and 51'-1 have been less assessed in visceral non-trophoblastic neoplasms. Gastro~intestinal adenocarcinomas have been shown to
be associated with a high incidence of heG production 6, 7, 12.13, 18. Esophageal carcinomas, as other squamous cell carcinomas, however, have not been so intensively studied. Serum studies have failed to demonstrate heG in patients with esophageal carcinomas". 15,25. Only three isolated cases of esophageal heG producing tumors have been reported and none of them was a squamous cell carcinoma 21 ,26,32 The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of heG production in esophageal carcinomas, to detect the expression of other placental proteins (hPL and SP-1 ) in heG positive cases, and to correlate the presence of these trophoblastic markers with several clinicopathologic parameters. 0.144-033819110187-0503$3.50/0
504 . 1. Trias
