title: Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with primary intracranial germ cell tumors.
abstract: Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 14 patients with primary intracranial germ cell tumors in the pineal and/or chiasmal region and the relationship between AFP, HCG and CEA levels, tumor histopathology and survival time was studied. In 7 of the 14 patients, elevation of AFP and/or HCG was noted. Histopathological diagnosis of these patients was embryonal carcinoma (1), choriocarcinomas (2) and seminoma (4). Five of the 7 patients died within 2 years after diagnosis in spite of surgery and/or radiation therapy. Seven patients who showed normal AFP and HCG levels consisted of 6 germinomas and one teratoma. Four of the 7 patients remain alive and well more than 5 years after surgery and/or radiation therapy. CEA was above normal in only one patient with a seminoma. Our results suggest that the serum levels of AFP and HCG are useful for predicting tumor histopathology and the prognosis of patients with primary intracranial germ cell tumors.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins