Ectopic human placental lactogen and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in gastric fluid of patients with malignant and non-malignant conditions of the stomach.

Human placental lactogen (hPL) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) in gastric aspirates and sera of 24 patients with malignant (12 patients) and non-malignant (12 patients) conditions of the stomach were studied. In patients with cancer of the stomach, hPL and beta-hCG were found to be present in gastric aspirate at higher frequency than in serum. The concentration of these hormones in gastric aspirate was higher than in serum. In 2 patients with duodenal ulcer beta-hCG was found to be present in gastric aspirate, 1 of them having the hormone in circulation as well, while none of the 12 patients with non-malignant conditions of the stomach showed presence of hPL in their gastric aspirate or serum.