ßhCG and hCG-H production by cancer cells increases as the cancer becomes metastatic and spreads from its primary location.  When ßhCG and hCG-H are co-opted by cancer, they become powerful promoters of tumor growth and malignancy. Many studies show that the presence of these forms of hCG in tumors is an indicator of poor prognosis for patients.

The Biological Activities of hCG
hCG is a member of the glycoprotein hormone family, along with its evolutionary homologues, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Each member of this hormone family has powerful biological effects. hCG is produced in significant quantities only by the fetus during its life in the womb and by cancer cells.

hCG’s Modes of Action
ßhCG and hCG-H are critical mediators of cancer and pregnancy. When these molecules are produced by cancer and embryonic cells, their actions are directed at the host’s body to assure implantation and growth of these invading cells.

hCG and its variants also contribute to assuring that the cancer patient or expectant mother provides adequate supplies of oxygen and nutrition to embryos and tumors, by stimulating blood vessel growth. This is done via production of the angiogenic cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in cells surrounding the new growth.

hCG and its variants exert effects on the immune system by blocking the normal process of rejecting foreign cells and by controlling the responses of white blood cells, which accumulate in the tissue adjacent to the embryo or tumor and then respond to hCG by suppressing the killing responses of other white blood cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells. This immune-suppressing activity of hCG is critical to embryo survival and growth and helps tumors to grow and spread without being attacked by the patient’s normal immune response to disease.

Many scientific studies have implicated hCG or its variants in causing or worsening cancer, correlating increased ßhCG levels with increased tumor malignancy and metastasis.

	hCG promotes pregnancy through hormonal effects on maternal cells and organs.  As the embryo implants in the uterus, it secretes hCG and its ß-chain and hCG-H variants (red triangles), which cause the ovary to secrete progesterone to maintain pregnancy, and also cause cells surrounding the embryo to produce other molecules that support the growth of the embryo and suppress the immune reactions of maternal white blood cells. Among these molecules, MIF, VEGF, FasL and ManR play important roles.
	ßhCG and hCG-H secreted by cancer cells (red triangles) have multiple negative effects on white blood cells (NK, B, T and APC) and other cells of the surrounding tissues.   These forms of hCG also have an autocrine effect that slows cell death (apoptosis) and thereby increases the growth of tumors.  Inoculation with CG201 produces anti-hCG antibodies (dark blue) that block these effects, enabling the immune system to attack the tumor, while reducing new blood vessel development needed to support tumor growth.