Immunohistochemical ferritin in testicular seminoma.

Immunohistochemical ferritin was demonstrated in all 23 (100%) testicular seminomas studied with antisera to liver ferritin (largely of basic isoferritins) and to myocardial ferritin (containing more acidic isoferritins). With liver ferritin antibody immuno-stain was strong in 74% with a diffuse distribution in 41%. The remaining six tumors showed moderate immuno-stain, of diffuse distribution in two. The myocardial ferritin antibody showed the following: strong immuno-stain in 52%, 58% of diffuse distribution; and moderate immuno-stain in 30%, 86% of focal distribution. Although ferritin is widespread in nature, the facts that both basic and acidic isoferritins are present in the majority of testicular seminomas, and that serum ferritin levels are reported to be increased in over 80% of patients with seminoma suggest that the demonstration of raised serum ferritin levels in the face of negative or low serum assays for human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein possibly may prove to be useful in the diagnosis, and evaluation of extent and recurrence of testicular seminomas.