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Updated: Nov 20, 2025
Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell CTC Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications
Published on: February 28, 2014
Serum tumour markers in germ cell tumours: From diagnosis to cure
Paolo Pedrazzoli1, Giovanni Rosti2, Eleonora Soresini2
1Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy; European Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Cell Therapy & Immunobiology Working Party.
Abstract:
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent the best and the only example of solid tumors curable in the large majority of patients. GCTs are one of the few malignancies for which specific biochemical markers have been identified: human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP). Due to their specificity and sensitivity they constitute formidable tools in the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment for GCTs. As a tumor mass marker, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is also considered. Tumor markers are expressed in 15-20% of seminoma and 60-80% of non-seminoma. With the aim to increase sensitivity and specificity, recent studies have proposed miRNAs as serum biomarkers. This review will focus on role of serum tumor markers in diagnosis, staging, prognosis, monitoring of response, and finally follow-up of GCTs.
