Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 as a marker of testicular germ cell tumor.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 activity was determined repeatedly in 21 men with testicular germ cell tumors in connection with orchiectomy and in 25 without neoplasia who underwent exploration of the testis. The highest level in the men without malignancy was 109 units per 1. and a higher pre-orchiectomy level was found in 15 of the tumor patients: 7 of 11 with seminoma and 8 of 10 with nonseminomatous tumors. In the patients with stage 3 disease serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 was increased more often and the activity was higher than in the stage 1 and 2 cancer patients. Within 1 month after orchiectomy the initially increased level decreased to less than 109 units per 1. in 8 of 10 patients with a stage 1 tumor and it remained higher in 5 with stage 2 or 3 disease. Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 seems to be a useful marker of testicular germ cell tumor.