SERUM LEVELS OF DIMERIC ACTIVIN A ARE NOT A MARKER OF PLACENTAL TUMORS IN THE COURSE OF CHEMOTHERAPY

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether serum activin A l evels may represent, in addition to intact human chorionic gonadotroph in, a marker of placental tumors in the course of chemotherapy. Serial determinations of serum levels of activin A were performed in women w ith hydatidiform mole (n=2) or choriocarcinoma (n=3). Serum activin A levels were measured by using a new specific two-site enzyme immunoass ay (EIA) able to detect the dimeric, bioactive, form of the protein. S erum hCG concentrations in samples taken after evacuation before start ing chemotherapy were greater than in healthy non-pregnant women (p<0. 001) and decreased following chemotherapy. Activin A serum levels in w omen with trophoblastic disease after evacuation were significantly hi gher than in healthy nan-pregnant women, but chemotherapy did not sign ificantly affect circulating levels. No correlation was found between changes of activin A and total hCG serum concentrations. Measurement o f activin A by ELISA in presence of persistent molar tumor does not se em to be of clinical interest in the follow-up of disease, resulting a ctivin A concentrations after chemotherapy in the range of values occu rring throughout menstrual cycle. These evidences suggest that hCG det ermination is still the most valid for follow-up, because only intact hCG could detect the persistence of trophoblast tissue. (C) 1998, Edit rice Kurtis.