title: A highly sensitive and specific chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for placental alkaline phosphatase in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with intracranial germinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been proposed as a tumor marker for intracranial germinomas. The purpose of the present study was to develop a sensitive assay for measuring CSF PLAP and to evaluate the clinical significance of PLAP in patients with germinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chemiluminescent enzyme assay for PLAP was developed using an anti-human-PLAP monoclonal antibody. PLAP concentrations were determined in 37 controls, 36 germinomas, 3 nongerminomatous germ cell tumors, 21 gliomas and 12 other brain tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The assay detection limit was 5 pg/ml. The median PLAP concentration in the control group was below the detection limit. Significantly higher PLAP levels were detected in all 36 germinoma patients, with values ranging from 16 to 3,700 pg/ml. The high PLAP concentrations of 17 germinoma patients decreased to below the detection limit after complete remission had been achieved with radiochemotherapy. The sensitivity and specificity of PLAP for germinomas were 94 and 97%, respectively, with a cutoff value of 30 pg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the determination of CSF PLAP by the chemiluminescent method described here provides a clinically useful tumor marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of intracranial germinomas.
authors: Tokyo PLAP Study Group, Division of Internal Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Minamisenju Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. watanabe@aiwakai.or.jp
authors: Shinichiro
authors: S
authors: Watanabe
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Aihara
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Kikuno
authors: Toyoji
authors: T
authors: Sato
authors: Tsugikazu
authors: T
authors: Komoda
authors: Osami
authors: O
authors: Kubo
authors: Kosaku
authors: K
authors: Amano
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Okada
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Koyamaishi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D018237:Germinoma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014015:Tissue Banks; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C019839:alkaline phosphatase, placental