Serum β-hCG as a Biomarker in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Rethinking Single-Analyte Approach

• Published in: Cancers 2024-06, Vol.16 (11), p.2060
• Main Authors: Komarnicki, Paweł, Gut, Paweł, Cieślewicz, Maja, Musiałkiewicz, Jan, Maciejewski, Adam, Czupińska, Michalina, Mastorakos, George, Ruchała, Marek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological markers; Biomarkers; Cancer; Cell growth; Chorionic gonadotropin; Data collection; Diagnosis; Disease; Endocrinology; Gonadotropins; Health aspects; Liver cancer; Liver diseases; Malignancy; Measurement; Medical imaging; Metastases; Metastasis; Neuroendocrine tumors; Oncology, Experimental; Pancreas; Pancreatic tumors; Patients; Pituitary (anterior); Pregnancy; Prognosis
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112060

Despite recent advances, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) remain a challenging topic, due to their diversity and the lack of suitable biomarkers. Multianalyte assays and the shift to an omics-based approach improve on the conventional single-analyte strategy, albeit with their own drawbacks. We explored the potential of serum β-hCG as a biomarker for NETs and discussed its role in disease monitoring. We recruited 40 patients with non-functioning pancreatic NETs, all with liver metastases. Serum β-hCG concentrations were measured at 3-month intervals over 48 months. We performed a comparative and a repeated measures analysis of β-hCG depending on WHO grade (G1, G2), liver tumor burden (LTB; below 10%, 10-25%), and RECIST 1.1. (stable disease, progressive disease). Patients with progressive disease ( < 0.001), 10-25% LTB ( < 0.001) and WHO Grade 2 ( < 0.001) displayed higher β-hCG concentrations. Throughout the study, β-hCG concentrations consistently increased across the entire cohort. Delta β-hCG during the study period was greater in patients with 10-25% LTB ( < 0.001), progressive disease ( < 0.001), and G2 ( = 0.003). Serum β-hCG correlates with established indicators of malignancy and disease progression in metastatic NETs, supporting further studies as a monitoring and prognostic biomarker. Despite promising results from novel biomarkers, there is still a place for single-analyte assays in NETs.