title: The use of tumor markers in germ cell malignancies.
abstract: Serum tumor markers, including alphafetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin, are critical to the choice of therapy and monitoring of patients with germ cell tumors. i(12p) is a specific chromosomal marker for germ cell tumors that is diagnostically useful, of possible prognostic importance, and detectable by both conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques. A variety of other molecular genetic markers are under study, in order to contribute to the understanding of normal and aberrant differentiation and to understand their relevance as tumor markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bosl
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chaganti
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers