Clinical Trial: Conformation of Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin During Chemotherapy for Choriocarcinoma

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Conformation of Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin During Chemotherapy for Persistent Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors Using Atomic Force Microscopy and Dual Polarisation Interferometry

Brief Summary: Gestational trophoblastic disease comprises a spectrum of diseases with different propensity for local invasion and metastasis, that is, partial and complete hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor.All trophoblastic tumors produce hCG, and monitoring of therapy is largely based on the determination of hCG in serum. The conformational change of tumor markers during antineoplastic chemotherapy for cancer and its clinical meaning has only been rarely studied. In this study, we will try to understand the conformational change of the tumor marker (hCG) during chemotherapy.

Detailed Summary:

The conformational change of human chorionic gonadotropin beta (hCG beta) during chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic disease and its clinical meaning have not been well understood. In this study we will use atomic force microscopy and dual polarisation interferometry to measure the dimensions and conformational change of beta human chorionic gonadotropin during chemotherapy for persistent gestational trophoblastic tumors.

Gestational trophoblastic disease comprises a spectrum of diseases with different propensity for local invasion and metastasis, that is, partial and complete hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor. Persistent trophoblastic disease may develop both from partial and complete moles. All trophoblastic tumors produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and monitoring of therapy is largely based on the determination of hCG in serum. The more malignant forms also express excessive amounts of hCG beta, and simultaneous determination of hCG and hCG beta can be used to differentiate between molar disease and trophoblastic cancer, which is associated with a proportion of hCG beta exceeding 5%. Over glycosylated hCG has also been reported to be a characteristic of trophoblastic cancer, but its clinical utility remains to be established. The hCG beta level in serum is also used to evaluate prognosis with not only very high but also very low levels in relation to tumor burden being indicative of adverse prognosis. Because of that: 1). more malignant forms also express excessive amounts of hCG beta; 2). the half-life of hCG beta is longer than that of hCG; 3). the hCG beta /hCG ratio will increase when the levels decrease after successful therapy; and 4). the ratio has been found to increase during development of therapy-resistant disease, monitoring of gestational trophoblastic disease usually relies on human chorionic gonado
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

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Information By: National Taiwan University Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: February 17, 2006
Date Started: August 2006
Date Completion: July 2008
Last Updated: February 17, 2006
Last Verified: February 2006