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Elevated serum alphafetoprotein and seminoma clinical evidence for a histologic continuum?
Author(s) -
Raghavan Derek,
Sullivan Anne L.,
Peckham Michael J.,
Neville A. Munro
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19820901)50:5<982::aid-cncr2820500528>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - seminoma , medicine , yolk sac , germ cell , pathology , dysgerminoma , chemotherapy , biology , embryo , biochemistry , ovary , gene , microbiology and biotechnology
We report the clinical courses of patients with histologically “pure” seminomas, but with elevated circulating levels of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP). Histologic review of these cases supports the concept of a continuum of cellular differentiation between classical seminoma and yolk sac carcinoma, as has recently been described in xenografted human germ cell tumors. This may explain the occurrence of nonseminomatous metastases in patients with “pure” seminomas and the occasional failure of surgery and conventional irradiation to achieve cure in patients with seminomas apparently localised to the testis.