title: Recognizing abnormal marker results that do not reflect disease in patients with germ cell tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The judicious use of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and lactate dehydrogenase is key to appropriate management of patients with germ cell tumors. Elevated AFP and/or HCG generally indicate active disease. We describe patients with germ cell tumors who had elevated serum AFP and/or HCG but no active disease, despite careful repeat evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histories of 6 cases of germ cell tumors that remained in remission despite abnormal serum AFP and/or HCG were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Markers were only modestly elevated, remained constant or spontaneously normalized during repeat measurements, and there was no other clinical or radiographic evidence of disease. Patients were treated conservatively with physical examination, radiological tests and repeat marker assays, with no relapse to date.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stable, low increases in serum AFP and HCG may not represent active disease. Careful repeat evaluation will determine whether the markers increase. If no change is noted after appropriate studies have been reviewed by an experienced practitioner to exclude active disease from diagnosis, then consideration should be given to managing such cases with close surveillance to avoid unnecessary chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bosl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D018237:Germinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase