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Multiple Fetal Antigens in Germ‐cell Tumors
Author(s) -
WAHREN B.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1978.tb03909.x
Subject(s) - seminoma , antigen , antiserum , ferritin , teratoma , germ cell tumors , pathology , cell , fetus , biology , medicine , immunology , pregnancy , genetics , chemotherapy
Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) on individual malignant teratoma cell populations demonstrated that 1–60% of them stained with anti‐AFP, 0–16% with anti‐ferritin and 0–40% with anti‐CEA antiserum. The proportion of cells containing each antigen varied in the different tumors. In seminoma or normal testicular tissue these antigens were not found. Raised serum levels of AFP or the ferritin‐like substance were both related to the presence of tumor and furthermore to dissemination of the disease. CEA occurred transiently in serum. HCG levels above normal were obtained in 40% of the patients. AFP, ferritin, CEA and HCG occurred independently. It is therefore concluded that certain germ cell tumors contain subpopulations of cells, differing in the production and release of the antigens studied. The presence of either AFP or ferritin in serum of patients with primary or advanced disease indicated a worse prognosis. In altogether 44 patients with malignant teratomas one or several abnormal serum substances could always be demonstrated.