Non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis. Analysis of CEA production in primary tumors and in retroperitoneal lymph node metastases after PVB chemotherapy.

In the present investigation we compared CEA immunoperoxidase staining in testicular tumors (before PVB chemotherapy) and retroperitoneal tumors (after PVB chemotherapy) with CEA levels in the cyst fluid of retroperitoneal mature teratoma and in the patients' serum. CEA had no value as a serum tumor marker since serum CEA elevations were not associated with tumor activity. Only one elevated CEA level after chemotherapy was associated with bleomycin pneumonitis. Despite normal serum levels, CEA was localized immunohistochemically in yolk sac tumor and mature teratoma in the primary tumors and in retroperitoneal mature teratoma following PVB chemotherapy. The presence of CEA in cells lining cystic mature teratoma was associated with high CEA levels in the cyst fluid.