There are three important tumor markers for testicular cancer:
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Who is most likely to get testicular cancer?
Who is most likely to get testicular cancer? There are certain risk factors that make a man more likely to get testicular cancer. Testicular can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects teens and younger men between the ages of 15 and 35. Those born with undescended testicles, or “cryptorchidism,” are at higher risk of testicular cancer.
Is there a test for detecting testicular cancer?
If a lump or other sign of testicular cancer is found, testing will be needed to look for the cause. An ultrasound is often the first test done if the doctor thinks you might have testicular cancer. It uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of your body.
How do we diagnose testicular cancer?
Tests for testicular cancer
- Scrotal ultrasound. A scrotal ultrasound scan is a painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your testicle.
- Blood tests. To help confirm a diagnosis, you may need a series of blood tests to detect certain hormones in your blood, known as markers.
- Histology. ...
- Other tests. ...
How do you test for cancer markers?
Tissue tests
- Flow cytometry. This test is used to diagnose and classify certain cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and to evaluate the risk of recurrence.
- Mammaprint + Blueprint ® test. The Mammaprint ® 70-Gene Breast Cancer Recurrence Assay may be used to determine the risk that a patient’s cancer will return.
- Oncotype DX ® test. ...
- MammaPrint + BluePrint ® vs. ...
What tumor marker is elevated in testicular cancer?
Many testicular cancers make high levels of certain proteins called tumor markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). When these tumor markers are in the blood, it suggests that there's a testicular tumor.
What are 3 tumor markers?
Some of the more useful tumor markers include:Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)CA 125.Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)CA 19-9.
What blood tests detect testicular cancer?
Blood Tests Tumor markers that may be used to detect testicular cancer include alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).
What is a normal AFP level for testicular cancer?
Also called: aFP, AFP, alpha-fetoglobulin. Normal range: Adults: < 15 ng/ml. Beta Subunit HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): A serum test used as a tumor marker for testicular carcinoma.
How accurate are tumor markers?
Tumor marker tests are not perfect. They are often not specific for cancer and may not be sensitive enough to pick up a cancer recurrence. The presence of tumor markers alone is not enough to diagnose cancer. You will probably need other tests to learn more about a possible cancer or recurrence.
What are the most common tumor markers?
Tumor Markers in Common UseALK gene rearrangements and overexpression. ... Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ... B-cell immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. ... BCL2 gene rearrangement. ... Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) ... Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG) ... Bladder Tumor Antigen (BTA) ... BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.More items...•
What are the 5 warning signs of testicular cancer?
Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:A lump or enlargement in either testicle.A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.A dull ache in the abdomen or groin.A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum.Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.Back pain.
Does testicular cancer always show up in blood tests?
Not all people with testicular cancer produce markers. There may still be a chance you have testicular cancer even if your blood test results come back normal.
How quickly does testicular cancer spread?
Many men do not tell their health care provider about these signs. On average, men wait for about five months before saying anything. Since the tumor can spread during that time, it is vital to reach out to a urologist if you notice any of these signs.
What is considered a high tumor marker number?
Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.
Does high afp mean cancer?
High levels of AFP can be a sign of liver cancer or cancer of the ovaries or testicles, as well as noncancerous liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. High AFP levels don't always mean cancer, and normal levels don't always rule out cancer.
Can you have testicular cancer with normal tumor markers?
Elevated levels of these tumor markers may indicate testicular cancer or another type of cancer. However, it is possible to have testicular cancer and have normal tumor marker levels. It is also possible to have elevated levels of these markers without having cancer.
What are the types of tumor markers?
There are two main types of tumor markers: circulating tumor markers and tumor tissue markers. Circulating tumor markers can be found in the blood, urine, stool, or other bodily fluids of some patients with cancer.
What is a normal tumor marker?
Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.
What is an ideal tumor marker?
The three most important characteristics of an ideal tumor marker are (a) it should be highly specific to a given tumor type, (b) it should provide a lead-time over clinical diagnosis and (c) it should be highly sensitive to avoid false positive results.
What cancers does CA-125 detect?
Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a protein found on most ovarian cancer cells that is secreted into the blood stream and can be measured....The CA125 blood levels can be increased in ovarian cancer and other cancers including:uterine.fallopian tube.pancreatic.breast.colorectal.lung.stomach.
How to diagnose testicular cancer?
Most types of cancer are diagnosed by removing a small piece of the tumor and looking at it under a microscope for cancer cells. This is known as a biopsy. But a biopsy is rarely done for a testicular tumor because it might risk spreading the cancer. The doctor can often get a good idea ...
What is the first test done to see if you have testicular cancer?
An ultrasound is often the first test done if the doctor thinks you might have testicular cancer. It uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of your body. It can be used to see if a change is a certain benign condition (like a hydrocele or varicocele) or a solid tumor that could be a cancer.
Why do we use tumor markers?
Tumor marker tests sometimes are also used for other reasons, such as to help estimate how much cancer is present (see Testicular Cancer Stages) to see how well treatment is working, or to look for signs the cancer might have come back.
Why do you need an ultrasound for testicular cancer?
Other imaging tests may be done for a number of reasons after a testicular cancer diagnosis, including: To learn if and how far the cancer might have spread. To help determine if treatment worked.
What does a doctor look for in a testicle?
The doctor will also examine your belly (abdomen), lymph nodes, and other parts of your body carefully to look for signs of cancer spread. Often the results of the exam are normal other than the changes in the testicles.
Where is the testicle sent?
The entire testicle is sent to the lab, where a pathologist (a doctor specializing in laboratory diagnosis of diseases) looks at pieces of the tumor with a microscope. If cancer cells are found, the pathologist sends back a report describing the type and extent of the cancer. In very rare cases, when a diagnosis of testicular cancer is uncertain, ...
Can testicle cancer be returned to scrotum?
If the tissue is not cancer, the testicle can often be returned to the scrotum. If testicular cancer is found, your doctor will order imaging tests of other parts of your body to check for spread outside the testicle. These tests may also be done before the diagnosis is confirmed by surgery.
What is the marker for testicular tumors?
This marker is the alpha-fetaprotein, which is found in higher concentration in some germ cell tumors. Sperms and cells are created by germ cells. Testicular tumors which are of the endodermal science and embryonic cell type, can be detected by elevated levels of this marker.
How to identify cancer?
The difficult part about identifying cancer early, is that in the beginning, it can develop without presenting any signs or symptoms. However, there are markers which can be detected to identify cancer. These markers are substances present in the body when cancer has developed. They can be found in the blood, body tissues, body fluids and urine. These substances may be genes, proteins or other substances. A blood or urine test is most commonly performed to look for tumor markers.
What is LDH marker?
This marker stands for lactate dehydrogenase and is also a marker for germ cell tumors which are present with testicular cancer. These are found in a number of places within the body, and are not quite as effective as testing AFP or HCG. The reason for this is because the LDH blood level is increased in other situations such as liver or blood problems, so will not be a clear marker for cancer specifically.
What is the role of biochemical markers in testicular cancer?
Role of biochemical markers in testicular cancer: diagnosis, staging, and surveillance
What percentage of men have testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer represents approximately 1% of all cancers diagnosed in men, and is the most common solid organ malignancy among men aged 15–35 years.2In 2011, an estimated 8000 incident cases of testicular cancer were diagnosed in the US.3Nearly all testis tumors are GCTs, which are categorized as either seminoma or nonseminoma GCTs (NSGCTs) based on histology. NSCGTs are divided into four subtypes: choriocarcinoma, yolk sac, embryonal, and teratoma. Approximately 60% of GCTs contain more than one of these histologic patterns (ie, mixed GCTs).4The most frequent combination of tumor types is embryonal, yolk sac, and teratoma.4The pure (ie, nonmixed) GCT types include:
What is LDH in testicular cancer?
LDH has relatively low specificity for GCTs. There are five unique isoforms of LDH, with LDH-1 being the most frequently elevated isoenzyme in testicular cancers. Assays for LDH measure enzymatic activity and not the actual enzyme quantity; therefore, there can be considerable variations in LDH levels dependent on the assay used by a particular laboratory. As a result, elevations of LDH must be taken in the context of other tumor markers and staging studies. LDH is elevated in 40%–60% of men with testicular GCTs.9LDH has limited sensitivity and specificity for seminoma, but LDH levels >2000 U/L are more consistent with bulky disease, and rising levels are an accurate indicator of recurrence.10In NSCGTs, LDH is directly related to tumor burden.11An elevated serum LDH level may be the sole biochemical abnormality in 10% of patients with persistent or recurrent NSGCT.12
How long do testicular cancer patients live?
Due to significant advances in the multimodal treatment of testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs), including improved disease staging techniques, effective platinum-based combination chemotherapy regimens, aggressive surgical resection of residual disease, and a policy of close surveillance after primary therapy, men with testis cancer have some of the highest survival rates (>95% 5-year disease-specific survival) of any solid organ malignancy1Additionally, the young age and good health of most testicular cancer patients allow them to better tolerate intense chemotherapeutic and surgical treatments, contributing to their favorable outcomes. Central to the success in treating GCTs is the development and widespread use of sensitive and reliable GCT markers.
What is the most common tumor type in GCT?
In a study of 91 men with histologically documented LRs of testicular GCT, teratoma was the most common tumor type identified (60%), but this was frequently associated with other tumor types. Yolk sac tumor was the second most common tumor type identified (46%). Only small numbers of LRs consisted of other tumor types, including non-GCTs, seminoma, embryonal, and choriocarcinoma.23Those patients whose LR consisted of teratoma only had the most favorable outcomes, with 79% having no evidence of disease (NED) at last follow-up, in contrast to those patients with LRs consisting of nongerm cell malignant tumors or pure GCTs, with only 36% and 37% alive with NED, respectively.23Historically, patients with LRs tend to have a poor prognosis, with long-term disease-free survival rates of 26% and 36% reported.22,25
Is testis cancer a solid organ?
Testis cancer is one of the few solid organ malignancies for which reliable serum tumor markers are available to help guide disease management. Human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha fetoprotein, and lactate dehydrogenase play crucial roles in diagnosis, staging, prognosis, monitoring treatment response, and surveillance of seminomatous and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Herein we discuss the clinical applications of germ cell tumor markers, the limitations of these markers in the management of this disease, and additional serum molecules that have been identified with potential roles as novel germ cell tumor markers.
Is testicular cancer a reliable marker?
The existence of reliable testicular tumor markers has had a significant impact on testicular cancer surveillance after primary therapy and aids in the early detection of disease recurrence. These markers used in conjunction with periodic imaging are the mainstay of GCT surveillance. The frequency of tumor marker evaluation varies according to the tumor histology, stage, and previous therapy. In a study by Rathmell et al,18elevated AFP and/or hCG was the initial indicator of disease recurrence in 55% of patients with either NSCGT or seminoma.
What is a tumor marker?
A tumor marker is anything present in or produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions that provides information about a cancer , such as how aggressive it is, what kind of treatment it may respond to, or whether it is responding to treatment.
What are the two types of tumor markers?
There are two main types of tumor markers: circulating tumor markers and tumor tissue markers.
Why are tumor markers important?
Because tumor markers can be used to predict the response of a tumor to treatment and for prognosis, researchers have hoped that they might also be useful in screening tests that aim to detect cancer early, before there are any symptoms.
What is the term for a tumor tissue marker that indicates a cancer patient is a candidate for a particular?
select an appropriate treatment (e.g., treatment with a targeted therapy) Tumor tissue markers that indicate whether someone is a candidate for a particular targeted therapy are sometimes referred to as biomarkers for cancer treatment.
What does it mean when a tumor marker decreases?
For example, a decrease in the level of a circulating tumor marker may indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment, whereas an increasing or unchanged level may indicate that the cancer is not responding.
Where are tumor tissue markers found?
Tumor tissue (or cell) markers are found in the actual tumors themselves, typically in a sample of the tumor that is removed during a biopsy. Tumor tissue markers are used to:
When should tumor markers be measured?
Circulating tumor markers may also be measured periodically after treatment has ended to check for recurrence (the return of cancer).
