title: Detection of germ-cell tumor cells in the peripheral blood by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for alpha-fetoprotein-messenger RNA and beta human chorionic gonadotropin-messenger RNA.
abstract: By establishing sensitive nested reverse transcription-PCRs for the detection of mRNA of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG), we investigated the presence of circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of 119 patients with germ-cell tumor. A total of 336 blood samples obtained before and during therapy were examined with regard to clinical applicability. The overall ratio of positive PCR results was 26.5% and was independent of the serum concentration of AFP and hCG/betahCG. No correlation of the positivity for AFP-mRNA to serum AFP level was found. In contrast, positive results in betahCG-PCR were twice as frequent in patients with elevated serum hCG/betahCG levels as in those with normal serum hCG/betahCG levels (P = 0.012). To develop a valid correlation to tumor stage, tumor histology, and serum level of tumor markers, a subgroup of 36 patients was evaluated before definite therapy. The subgroup revealed an overall ratio of 33.3% positive PCR results. The serum level of both of the markers did not correlate with the detection of corresponding mRNA in peripheral blood samples. However, positive betahCG-PCR results were found exclusively in patients with elevated serum hCG/betahCG (6 of 18 versus 0 of 18; P = 0.019). Patients with stage IIC/III germ-cell tumor demonstrated nearly twice the frequency of positive PCR results as patients with stage I tumor [7 (41.2%) of 17 versus 4 (23.5%) of 17] in this subgroup. With regard to histology, positive PCR results were found mostly in embryonal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hautkappe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bex
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harstrick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roggendorf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruebben
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D018237:Germinoma / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018239:Seminoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins