SERUM-LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE-ISOENZYME-1 - AN EARLY INDICATOR OF RELAPSE IN PATIENTS WITH TESTICULAR GERM-CELL TUMORS

The present study aimed to evaluate serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenz yme 1 (S-LD-1) as an indicator of relapse for patients with testicular germ cell tumors. Twenty-seven patients were investigated with repeat ed determinations of S-LD-I from diagnosis to relapse; 9 had seminoma and 18 nonseminomatous tumors, Eleven of 21 had raised S-LD-I at relap se (4 with seminoma), Seven of the 27 patients had a raised S-LD-I for median 2 months (1.4-4.5 months) before relapse was detected. Thus, S -LD-1 is of use, complementary to clinical examinations, determination s of serum alpha fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin, and CT scans, in monitoring patients with testicular germ cell tumors for rel apse.