HCG Assay Portfolio Service

Hormones and their receptors affect the development process of several cancers. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a kind of peptide hormone which plays an essential role during pregnancy. HCG not only impacts pregnancy but also influences metastatic outgrowth and tumor formation, especially in breast cancer and endometrial adenocarcinoma. With advanced and high-end technologies, rich experienced scientists, Creative Biolabs is an excellent service provider in the field of tumor marker assay. After long years ahead to fully comprehend tumor markers, we launch our HCG assay portfolio service which can be used in targeted cancer therapy and diagnosis. Next, we will introduce the HCG assay portfolio service as follows.

Biochemical Structure of HCG

HCG, which belongs to the glycoprotein hormone family, is a peptide hormone created at very high concentrations by trophoblast tissue. HCG is composed of 2 noncovalently linked subunits (α and β). The α-subunit consists of 95 amino acids and is also a part of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), while the β-subunit is composed of 145 amino acids, is specific for HCG. Hyperglycosylated HCG is a glycosylation variant of HCG produced by root cytotrophoblast cells and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells.

Fig.1 Structural representation of HCG. (Sisinni, 2015)

HCG in Cancers

• Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD)

HCG is overexpression in all kinds of GTD and represents an ideal tumor marker.

• Germ cell tumors

Germ cell tumors have two main types, seminomas and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT). Expression of HCG is detected in NSGCTs and found in about 20% of seminomas.

• Other non-trophoblastic cancer

High expression of HCG-immunoreactivity which mainly consists of HCGβ is observed in many human nontrophoblastic tumors, such as bladder cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

The Function of HCG

• HCG can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of ovarian epidermal cells, control the growth of follicle and corpus luteum formation.
• HCG can influence the function of the uterine, fetal and placental in pregnancy.
• HCG can promote angiogenesis in uterine vasculature.
• HCG can cause the blockage of any immune or macrophage action by the mother on foreign invading placental cells.
• Hyperglycosylated HCG can promote the growth of cytotrophoblast cells and invasion.
• Free β-subunit can block apoptosis in cancer cells and promote the growth and malignancy of cancer.
• Pituitary HCG seems to mimic luteinizing hormone actions during the menstrual cycle.

HCG Blockade Assays at Creative Biolabs Include but Not Limited to:

• Invasion assay
• Proliferation assay
• Metastasis assay
• Migration assay
• Apoptosis assay
• Angiogenesis assay

If you are interested in our service, please contact us or directly send us.

Reference

• Sisinni, L.; et al. The role of human chorionic gonadotropin as tumor marker: biochemical and clinical aspects. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015, 867: 159-76.

For Research Use Only | Not For Clinical Use

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