Testicular Cancer Tumor Markers | 合法醫療器材資訊網

Testicular cancer is one of the few cancers associated with tumor markers. It is not clear why testicular cancers release these markers. Most testis cancers that secrete tumor markers are nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT), and 85 percent of NSGCT will secrete at least one tumor marker. These cancers often develop from the germ cells in the testis that have the potential to transform into a variety of cell types. It is hypothesized that as these germ cells turn into cancer cells, they turn on genes and secrete proteins usually only released during fetal development.  

Despite the lack of understanding as to the cause of elevated tumor markers, these markers are well established to help in the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and monitoring of testis cancer. However, many patients and their families are confused about where tumor markers come from, what an elevation in a level means and how markers should change over time. There are three important tumor markers...