Abstract
Gestational trophoblastic disease is a specific group of benign, but also highly malignant disorders. Gestational trophoblastic tumours are neoplastic lesions derived from trophoblastic cells.
The physiological function of trophoblast is to provide anchoring of a fertilised ovum into a decidual tissue, induction of immunotolerance between a mother and foetus and establishment of highly specific barrier facilitating exchange of blood gases and nutrients. Measuring of blood level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a highly specific and sensitive marker, allows to detect the malignant transformation of trophoblastic cells, to monitor treatment response and also early detection of disease relapse.
The article gives overview information about different hCG isoforms, their detection and about behaviour of hCG levels in different forms of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumour, epithelioid trophoblastic tumour and persistent trophoblastic disease/ neoplasia) during their treatment and follow up as well.