Abstract
BACKGROUND: Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) originate from a common precursor, carcinoma in situ (CIS). Diagnosis at the CIS stage is desirable as it minimizes the necessary treatment. A detailed clinical evaluation of an approach to detect CIS cells in the ejaculate using primordial germ cell/gonocyte markers is presented.
METHODS: Immunocytological staining for AP-2gamma [and in some cases, OCT-3/4, NANOG or placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP)] was performed in semen samples from 294 infertile patients and 209 patients with TGCTs or other diseases.
RESULTS: Presence of AP-2gamma-stained cells was detected in 50% of participants with CIS and in 33.9% of TGCT patients before treatment (non-seminomas: 56.6%, seminomas: 17.4%). OCT-3/4 results were similar to those of AP-2gamma, whereas NANOG and PLAP stainings were unsuitable. Sensitivity was 54.5% for participants harbouring pre-invasive CIS but reduced in participants with overt TGCTs, perhaps because of obstruction. Assay specificity was 93.6%, positive predictive value (PPV) 83.3% and negative predictive value (NPV) 60.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: Immunocytological semen analysis based on expression of fetal germ cell markers in exfoliated cells has auxiliary diagnostic value, as it detects some patients with CIS/incipient tumour, but a negative result does not exclude TGCT. Further effort is needed to improve this assay, for example, by employing a more sensitive biochemical method of detection.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Human reproduction (Oxford, England) |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 167-73 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0268-1161 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2007 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Carcinoma in Situ
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Homeodomain Proteins
- Humans
- Isoenzymes
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
- Octamer Transcription Factor-3
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Semen
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Testicular Neoplasms
- Transcription Factor AP-2
- Tumor Markers, Biological