Biochemical markers for testicular germ-cell tumors in relation to histology and stage: some experiences from the Danish testicular cancer (DATECA) Study from 1976 through 1981.

The DATECA Project was started in January 1976 and includes all patients with testicular cancer in Denmark. During the first 6 years, 1246 patients entered the joint protocol for histology, staging, management, and clinical use of tumor markers. Only 746 DATECA patients fulfilled the claims for being ideally monitored with preoperative as well as postoperative serologic marker determinations. The overall prevalence of marker positivity, that is, elevated preoperative values of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and/or human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was 8% for patients with seminoma and 63% for patients with nonseminomatous disease. The prevalence of increased marker concentration in serum was correlated to stage (higher prevalence in higher stages) and to prognosis (marker-negative patients had a better prognosis than did marker-positive patients). An increased concentration of AFP or HCG was correlated with the presence of a primary endodermal sinus tumor and choriocarcinoma component, respectively.