A tumor marker used in the assessment of choriocarcinoma or hydatidiform mole is which?

A tumor marker used in the assessment of choriocarcinoma or hydatidiform mole is which?

• A. β-hCG
• B. CEA
• C. AFP
• D. IgG

Answer: (A)

In gestational trophoblastic diseases like choriocarcinoma and hydatidiform mole, the tissue of origin is trophoblastic and produces the hormone hCG. The marker that best reflects this activity is the beta subunit of hCG because it is the specific component measured to detect and monitor these conditions. Elevated β-hCG levels indicate the presence and amount of trophoblastic tumor tissue, and tracking its rise or fall helps diagnose gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, monitor treatment response, and detect relapse after therapy. Other substances referenced as tumor markers don’t fit this scenario: CEA is linked to several gastrointestinal and some other cancers, AFP is associated with liver cancers and certain germ cell tumors, and IgG is an immunoglobulin, not a tumor marker.

In gestational trophoblastic diseases like choriocarcinoma and hydatidiform mole, the tissue of origin is trophoblastic and produces the hormone hCG. The marker that best reflects this activity is the beta subunit of hCG because it is the specific component measured to detect and monitor these conditions. Elevated β-hCG levels indicate the presence and amount of trophoblastic tumor tissue, and tracking its rise or fall helps diagnose gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, monitor treatment response, and detect relapse after therapy.

Other substances referenced as tumor markers don’t fit this scenario: CEA is linked to several gastrointestinal and some other cancers, AFP is associated with liver cancers and certain germ cell tumors, and IgG is an immunoglobulin, not a tumor marker.