Serum and Tissue Tumour Markers in Seminomas

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Abstract
The serum expression of the tumour markers hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (HBD), beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG), alphafetoprotein (alpha FP) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) has been assessed in a consecutive series of 50 patients with pure seminoma. In pre-orchiectomy sera from 15 patients with stage I disease, HBD was elevated in 5, beta HCG in 3, alpha FP in 1 and PLAP in 1 (of 3 only). In 27 patients with stage 2 or 3 disease, prior to chemotherapy, serum HBD was elevated in 19, beta HCG in 11, alpha FP in 2 and PLAP in 10 (of 18). The presence of beta HCG was investigated immunocytochemically in primary tumour tissue from 39 patients. It was demonstrated in 6 of 21 tumours from patients with stage I disease and 5 of 18 with stage 2 or 3 disease.