Serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin as markers for the effect of postoperative radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy in testicular cancer.

Human alpha1-fetoprotein (AFP) and chroiongonadotropin (hCG) have been studied in 67 patients with malignant germ cell neoplasia of the testis admitted to the Radium Centre, Aarhus Municipal Hospital within an 18 month period. In 34 patients with nonseminoma, AFP was elevated in 35% of cases and hCG in 38% of cases. Nonseminoma patients who presented with or developed distant metastases showed a significantly higher incidence of elevated tumor markers than patients with local or regional disease. In patients with distant metastases monitoring of AFP and/or hCG was a most sensitive and reliable indicator of disease activity. In the management of such patients these tests are as important as clinical and x-ray examinations.