Serum Tumour Markers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumours: Frequencies of Elevated Levels and Extents of Marker Elevation Are Significantly Associated with Clinical Parameters and with Response to Treatment
Table 3
Extent of marker elevation at diagnosis.
bHCG [x-fold of ULN]
AFP [x-fold of ULN]
LDH [x-fold of ULN]
n (%)
Min
Median (Q1 - Q3)
Max
Min
Median (Q1 - Q3)
Max
Min
Median (Q1 - Q3)
Max
All GCT patients
422 (100.0%)
0.03
0.46 (0.41 - 3.12)
749063.67
0.05
0.40 (0.24 - 1.04)
5906.58
0.01
0.89 (0.76 - 1.10)
17.00
pT-stage
pT1
222 (52.6%)
0.03
0.45 (0.41 - 1.08)
749063.67
0.05
0.38 (0.23 - 0.86)
5906.58
0.01
0.83 (0.72 - 0.96)
17.00
>pT1
200 (47.4%)
0.03
1.03 (0.45 - 4.93)
130974.14
0.08
0.48 (0.25 - 1.20)
1630.46
0.03
0.97 (0.82 - 1.24)
9.32
p-
<.0001
0.1126
<.0001
Histology
Seminoma
254 (60.2%)
0.03
0.45 (0.41 - 1.16)
86.23
0.05
0.30 (0.22 - 0.47)
2.81
0.01
0.88 (0.75 - 1.06)
8.40
Nonseminoma
168 (39.8%)
0.03
1.35 (0.45 - 18.65)
749063.67
0.10
2.02 (0.49 - 13.02)
5906.58
0.55
0.90 (0.78 - 1.12)
17.00
p-
<.0001
<.0001
0.0963
Clinical stage
CS1
281 (66.6%)
0.03
0.45 (0.41 - 1.31)
560.26
0.05
0.36 (0.23 - 0.64)
1630.46
0.01
0.83 (0.72 - 0.98)
5.41
CS2a,b
95 (22.5%)
0.18
0.73 (0.45 - 12.94)
19427.83
0.13
0.50 (0.25 - 2.34)
195.55
0.03
0.98 (0.84 - 1.13)
8.40
CS2c
17 (4.0%)
0.22
1.20 (0.41 - 30.19)
28667.79
0.17
0.67 (0.45 - 1.93)
1596.20
0.59
1.34 (0.95 - 2.48)
3.80
CS3
29 (6.9%)
0.34
6.78 (0.79 - 70.86)
749063.67
0.12
1.35 (0.42 - 51.31)
5906.58
0.82
1.28 (0.96 - 1.68)
17.00
p-
<.0001
<.0001
<.0001
CS1 vs. >CS1
CS1
281 (66.6%)
0.03
0.45 (0.41 - 1.31)
560.26
0.05
0.36 (0.23 - 0.64)
1630.46
0.01
0.83 (0.72 - 0.98)
5.41
>CS1
141 (33.4%)
0.18
1.31 (0.45 - 14.38)
749063.67
0.12
0.59 (0.27 - 3.29)
5906.58
0.03
1.04 (0.88 - 1.42)
17.00
p-
<.0001
<.0001
<.0001
CS1 vs. >CS1 (Seminoma)
CS1
201 (79.1%)
0.03
0.45 (0.41 - 0.94)
47.73
0.05
0.30 (0.22 - 0.46)
2.12
0.01
0.83 (0.73 - 0.98)
5.41
>CS1
53 (20.9%)
0.18
0.69 (0.45 - 3.37)
86.23
0.13
0.28 (0.23 - 0.50)
2.81
0.03
1.03 (0.88 - 1.58)
8.40
p-
0.0001
0.3529
<.0001
CS1 vs. >CS1 (Nonseminoma)
CS1
80 (47.6%)
0.03
0.72 (0.43 - 4.86)
560.26
0.10
2.27 (0.48 - 12.02)
1630.46
0.55
0.81 (0.72 - 0.98)
2.71
>CS1
88 (52.4%)
0.21
3.59 (0.45 - 39.12)
749063.67
0.12
1.51 (0.49 - 20.16)
5906.58
0.57
1.04 (0.87 - 1.31)
17.00
p-
0.0041
0.9671
<.0001
Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons of subgroups; Min minimum value, Max maximum value, ULN upper limit of norm, Q1: first quartile, Q3: third quartile.