Immunocytochemical discordance in localization of pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular cancers.

Immunocytochemical discordance of human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein and pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein was studied in formaldehyde-fixed tissues of 26 patients with germinal testicular cancer. The cellular localization of these 3 markers has been correlated with the serum markers in the 26 patients. Serum alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and specific beta-1 glycoprotein were elevated in 15 of 26 (58 per cent), 17 of 26 (65 per cent) and 7 of 26 (27 per cent) patients, respectively, and in 22 of 26 (85 per cent) when all markers were considered. The cellular alpha-fetoprotein was localized in 5 of 26 (19 per cent), human chorionic gonadotropin in 12 of 26 (46 per cent) and specific beta-1 glycoprotein in 9 of 26 (35 per cent) patients. When all the markers were considered 15 of 26 patients (58 per cent) had either alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin or specific beta-1 glycoprotein localized in the cancer cells.