Expression of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is associated with trophoblastic, testicular and other malignancies such as bladder, pancreatic, cervical, breast and prostate cancer. In the prostate, however, hCG expression, associated with neuroendocrine cells, is also found in normal tissue. Of the six highly homologous genes that all encode the beta-subunit of hCG, the beta 7 gene is reportedly the only gene expressed in several non-transformed tissues. The beta 3, 5 and 8 genes would be variably expressed in malignant tissue and placenta, but not in normal tissue. To assess to what extent this expression difference can also be found in the prostate, we compared the levels of the different hCG beta transcripts in concurrent normal and cancerous prostate tissues obtained from 17 patients. To this end, we developed a Taqman real-time fluorescent RT-PCR assay for hCG beta, and a quantitative assay specific for the beta 3, 5 and 8 genes, modified from the molecular beacon principle. This latter assay proved highly specific and capable of reliably distinguishing between these hCG beta transcripts that differ in only one nucleotide. Surprisingly, median expression levels of hCG beta were lower in prostate cancer when compared with normal tissue from the same patient. In contrast, hCG beta 3, 5 and 8 transcripts were found in normal tissue and did not differ in prostate cancer, arguing against a specific role of these transcripts in the development of prostate cancer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Hotakainen, S. Lintula, B. Ljungberg, P. Finne, A. Paju, U.-H. Stenman, and J. Stenman Expression Of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin {beta}-Subunit Type I Genes Predicts Adverse Outcome In Renal Cell Carcinoma J. Mol. Diagn., November 1, 2006; 8(5): 598 - 603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Rull and M. Laan Expression of {beta}-subunit of HCG genes during normal and failed pregnancy Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2005; 20(12): 3360 - 3368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A. Mathias, J. Hitti, and J. D. Unadkat P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein expression in human placentae of various gestational ages Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2005; 289(4): R963 - R969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. N. Span, P. Manders, J. J.T.M. Heuvel, C. M.G. Thomas, R. R. Bosch, L. V.A.M. Beex, and C.G.J. Sweep Molecular Beacon Reverse Transcription-PCR of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-{beta}-3, -5, and -8 mRNAs Has Prognostic Value in Breast Cancer Clin. Chem., July 1, 2003; 49(7): 1074 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]