angiogenin and Hydatidiform-Mole

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs) are characterized by vascular abnormalities of the trophoblast, but their pathogenesis is unknown. Angiogenin (ANG) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, which are molecules implicated in the angiogenic process, may play some role in this process.. We determined ANG and MMP-2 in the placental tissues of 26 patients who had a benign mole (BM), 12 patients with gestational trophoblast neoplasia (GTN) (1 invasive hydatidiform mole, 10 choriocarcinomas, and 1 placental-site trophoblastic tumor), and 28 normal chorionic villi (NCV) subjects using immunohistochemistry staining. We obtained the serum samples from 20 patients with GTDs and 20 early pregnant women and evaluated them by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.. ANG expression in GTN (66.7%) and BM (100%) samples were both significantly higher (strong/intermediate staining) than in NCV (60.7%) samples (P < .001). Similarly, the immunoreactivities of MMP-2 in the GTN (66.7%) and BM (80.8%) samples were significantly elevated compared to that of the NCV (57.1%) samples (P < .001). The levels of ANG and MMP-2 in the maternal serum of the GTN group were both significantly higher than those of the control group (P < .001). ANG and MMP-2 expressions were associated with gestation age, clinical stage, and FIGO stage. A positive correlation between ANG and MMP-2 expression was observed (rs = 0.725; P < .01).. ANG and MMP-2 levels were significantly elevated in the placental tissues and maternal serum from patients with GTDs. Further studies with more patients may clarify the vascular abnormalities in GTDs and determine potential biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of GTDs.

Topics: Biomarkers; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Placenta; Pregnancy; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; Uterine Neoplasms

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values of serum angiogenin concentration in cases with gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs). Seventy-two patients with GTDs and 20 first trimester healthy pregnant women (controls) participated in this study. According to the WHO scoring system, GTDs were subgrouped into 24 hydatiform mole spontaneous regression (HMSR), 18 postmolar gestational trophoblastic tumors of high risk (PMHR), 16 low-risk choriocarcinoma, and 14 high-risk choriocarcinoma. Before treatment, a blood sample from each case was assayed for human chorionic gonadotrophin , subunit (hCGb) by radioimmunoassay and angiogenin by enzyme immunoassay. Follow-up hCGb and angiogenin assays were carried out for 1 year after treatment. Pretreatment of abnormal values of serum angiogenin (> 711 ng/ml, upper 95% confidence interval of controls) was encountered in 100% of PMHR cases compared to no single case of HMSR. Serum angiogenin levels in low- and high-risk cases with choriocarcinoma were significantly higher than in controls. Abnormal high values were encountered in 25% and 86% of cases, respectively. None of the low-risk cases exceeded 920 ng/ml, while 72% of high-risk cases exceeded this value. Serial angiogenin assays were correlated with disease progression and were positively correlated with serum hCGb (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). In conclusion, serum angiogenin may be a valuable marker of differential diagnosis of GTDs and its serial measurements are suggestive of remission and effective therapeutic intervention or disease progression.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Case-Control Studies; Choriocarcinoma; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Progression; Female; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Prognosis; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; Risk Factors; Uterine Neoplasms