Detection of incompletely sialylated human chorionic gonadotropin by peanut agglutinin in choriocarcinoma.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in normal pregnancy and hydatidiform mole did not bind to the peanut agglutinin (PNA)-Sepharose column, whereas significant amount of hCG in choriocarcinoma adsorbed to the column. Therefore, PNA-Sepharose affinity chromatography is an effective tool for the detection of desialylated hCG and may be useful also for the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma.