Human placental lactogen (hPL)

Immunohistochemical expression

Expressed by tumours with trophoblastic differentiation, but also by carcinomas of lung and stomach.

• Among trophblastic lesions, expression is strong in placental site trophoblastic tumour and exaggerated placental site1.

Diagnostic utility

• The identification of trophoblastic elements in products of conception, to differentiate intrauterine from extrauterine pregnancies.

• The differentiation of complete and partial molar pregnancies from choriocarcinoma

• As a member of a panel for differentiating between trophoblastic tumour.

• The identification of trophoblastic differentiation in germ cell tumours and other neoplasms.

References

1Singer, G., R. J. Kurman, et al. (2002). "HLA-G immunoreactivity is specific for intermediate trophoblast in gestational trophoblastic disease and can serve as a useful marker in differential diagnosis." Am J Surg Pathol 26(7): 914-20.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop