THE FALSE-POSITIVE TUMOR-MARKER IN MALIGN ANT-TUMOR OF THE TESTIS

In addition to the histological diagnosis, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and chorion gonadotropin (HCG) are used in clinical staging, therapy moni toring, and follow-up. Elevated markers without localization of metast ases by imaging procedures are generally classified as progressive dis ease. However, other causes may be responsible for the elevated tumor markers: other malignant or benign diseases such as hepatocellular car cinomas, gastrointestinal tumors, bronchial carcinomas and benign dise ases of the liver for AFP, and vesicular mole, hepatocellular, stomach , pancreatic and urothelial carcinomas for HCG. Moreover, technical di sturbances in the modern sandwich assays with monoclonal antibodies ar e possible by heterophilic antibodies. These human anti-animal antibod ies are built after immunoscintigraphy, immunostimulation and oral imm unization by macromolecules. As a result, if progressive disease of a malignant germ cell tumor is unlikely, several steps have to be taken to determine the true causes for the elevated tumor markers before che motherapy can be applied.