Skin metastases of gynecologic adenocarcinomas affect serum levels of hCG beta but not those of SCC antigen

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) has been shown to be elevated in p atients with epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix but also in patients with b enign tumors of epithelial origin and in benign skin disorders. Elevated se rum levels of the free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG be ta) have been observed in patients with cancer of different types, and canc er aggressiveness is related to hCG beta expression. Therefore, we expected that extensive metastatic skin dissemination of gynecologic malignancies w ould cause a rise in the serum levels of SCC-Ag and hCG beta. The serum lev els of SCC-Ag, hCG beta and CA 125 were monitored in 2 patients with extens ive skin dissemination of ovarian and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Skin meta stases had no effect on serum levels of SCC-Ag but they caused an increase in serum levels of hCG beta. SCC-Ag is not a marker for metastatic skin les ions of gynecologic carcinomas of nonepidermoid origin. hCG beta expression is associated with aggressiveness of cancer and may be a useful marker ind icating therapy resistance.