Lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and human chorionic gonadotropin in a pure ovarian dysgerminoma.

Pure dysgerminoma is considered to be a nonsecretary ovarian tumor. In this study serum lactic dehydrogenase, human chorionic gonadotropin, and alkaline phosphatase levels were highly elevated in a 21-year-old woman with unilateral ovarian pure dysgerminoma and fell sharply to normal levels after removal of the tumor. In order to establish the source of these elevated serum enzymes and hormone, the tumor was homogenized and the level of these substances was found to be several times higher than that of normal homogenized ovarian tissue. In addition, the presence of lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase in the dysgerminoma cells was shown by histochemical methods. This is the first report providing evidence that pure dysgerminoma contains and secretes enzymes and hormones which may constitute tumor markers useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with this type of neoplasm.