β-Hormone chorionique gonadotrope et cancer bronchique : un piège pour les essais cliniques

β-HCG is a specific marker for trophoblastic tumors of placenta and gestational tumors. Ectopic expression of β-HCG was found in 20-40% of all common epithelial carcinoma, especially for tumors of the stomach, ovary, liver and lung. Only few cases have been reported in the literature. However, in a young patient with high serum levels of β-HCG two questions arise: is there a place for pregnancy? Are the pathology results accurate? All this could delay the appropriate management of these patients and also potentially prevents the participation of innovative therapeutic strategies. Therefore, knowing this rare but possible expression of β-HCG by lung tumors may speed out the gynecological work-up and the reevaluation of the histological samples in order to minimize the delay in the care of these patients and give them a chance to have new innovative drugs within clinical trial.