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Immunological tissue markers in the diagnosis of testicular cancer

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Summary

Immunohistochemistry greatly contributes to the accuracy of the diagnosis in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alphafetoprotein (AFP) are the most used markers in testicular cancer, where the immunostaining is positive in non-seminomatous TGCT. Pure seminoma does not produce these proteins but some are combined with syncytiotrophoblastic cells which elaborate HCG, producing elevated HCG serum levels and positive immunostaining. Other markers deserve mention. Among these there are placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), ferritin (Fe), pregnancy specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1), human placental lactogen (HPL), carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) and alpha1-antitrypsin (A1AT). In addition, the recognition of intermediate filament proteins, such as keratin and vimentin, allow differentiation between seminoma and embryonal carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, Sezione di Anatomia Patologica, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale Regina Elena, 324, I-00161, Roma, Italy

    A. de Matteis

  2. Urology Institute, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    F. di Silverio

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  1. A. de Matteis
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  2. F. di Silverio
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de Matteis, A., di Silverio, F. Immunological tissue markers in the diagnosis of testicular cancer. World J Urol 5, 138–142 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327072

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