Analysis of the autoimmune response in an 'in situ' carcinoma of the testis.

Immune response in a patient with an in-situ seminoma of the testis was studied. Immunohistochemical examination of the testicular biopsy demonstrated remarkable intracellular and membraneous accumulation of IgG antibodies in the atypical spermatogonia. Using FITC-conjugated Concanavalin A, an abnormally high binding of Concanavalin A was detected in the transformed cells. Circulating antibodies directed against an antigenic determinant (60 kD) which is expressed on normal human spermatozoa and lymphocytes were found only in the patient's serum and not in 500 control sera. The role and possible diagnostic value of this autoimmune reactivity in testicular malignancies are discussed.