Ectopic production of placental hormones (human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen) in carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Serum hCG and hPL levels were assayed simultaneously in patients with cervical carcinoma and were compared with those of a miscellaneous group of malignant conditions. It is apparent from the results that hCG secretion is of a much wider occurrence as compared to hPL. There seems to be a definite relationship between the clinical staging and ectopic hCG and hPL production. While hCG secretion is predominant in the later stages, hPL is produced in the earlier stage. It therefore seems that hPL might prove to be helpful in early diagnosis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix.