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Tumor marker.
The α-subunits of human pituitary glycoprotein hormones TSH, FSH, LH, and the placental hormone hCG have similar amino sequences and are immunologically indistinguishable.1 The β-subunits are unique and responsible for the biological and immunological specificity of the intact hormones. Levels of free α-subunit increase during normal pregnancy.2 Measurement of free α-subunit can be of clinical utility in the assessment of abnormal pregnancy, gestational trophoblastic disease, and some nontrophoblastic malignancies.3,4 Elevated concentrations of α subunit have been associated with testicular cancer,5 pituitary adenomas,6 and malignant endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.7,8
1. Pierce JG, Parsons TF. Glycoprotein hormones: Structure and function. Annu Rev Biochem. 1981; 50:465-495 (review). PubMed 6267989
2. Benveniste R, Scommegha A. Human chorionic gonadotropin alpha subunit in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1981; 141(8):952-961. PubMed 6172038
3. Hussa RO. Clinical utility of human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha subunit measurements. Obstet Gynecol. 1982; 60(1):1-12 (review). PubMed 6283446
4. Cole LA. hCG, its free subunits and its metabolites: Roles in pregnancy and trophoblastic disease. J Reprod Med. 1998; 43(1):3-10 (review). PubMed 9475142
5. Madersbacher S, Klieber R, Mann K, et al. Free alpha-subunit, free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and intact hCG in sera of healthy individuals and testicular cancer patients. Clin Chem. 1992; 38(3):370-376. PubMed 1372196
6. Preissner CM, Klee GG, Scheithauer BW, et al. Free alpha subunit of the pituitary glycoprotein hormones. Measurement in serum and tissue of patients with pituitary tumors. Am J Clin Pathol. 1990; 94(4):417-421. PubMed 1699408
7. Grossmann M, Trautmann ME, Poertl S, et al. Alpha subunit and human chorionic gonadotropin-beta immunoreactivity in patients with malignant endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours. Eur J Clin Invest. 1994; 24(2):131-136. PubMed 7515807
8. Bardram L, Agner T, Hagen C, et al. Levels of alpha-subunits of gonadotropins can be increased in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, both in patients with malignant tumours and with apparently benign disease. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1988; 118(1):135-141. PubMed 3389044
