Abstract | PURPOSE: PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis was confined to patients with at least two precise marker assay results between days 7 and 22 from start of platinum-based combination chemotherapy, with at least 7 days between markers. One hundred eighty-three patients were eligible and marker half-life (MHL) was evaluated for AFP in 142 and for HCG in 111 cases. MHL was calculated from the following formula: MHL = Ln1/2/G, where G was the gradient of the marker slope on a plot of Ln marker concentration versus time. MHL was regarded as prolonged if more than 3 days for HCG or more than 7 days for AFP. RESULTS: The median AFP MHL was 6 days (range, 2.7 to 237) and the median HCG MHL was 2.6 days (range, 1.7 to 37.5). Forty-nine of 142 patients (35%) had a prolonged AFP MHL; 39 of 111 patients (35%) had a prolonged HCG-MHL. A prolonged MHL did not identify relapse after front-line chemotherapy. The positive predictive value of MHL tests in identifying patients who progressed after front-line therapy was 18% for HCG, 20% for AFP, and 18% for either marker. A prolonged MHL did indicate a higher risk of mortality (hazards ratio [HR], 2.4; P = .016), but again the positive predictive value of this test was only 23%. CONCLUSION: Early evaluation of MHL by this method does not predict patients at higher risk of progression after front-line chemotherapy, and also is a poor guide to long-term prognosis.
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Authors | M J Stevens, A R Norman, D P Dearnaley, A Horwich |
Journal | Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(J Clin Oncol)
Vol. 13
Issue 1
Pg. 87-92
(Jan 1995)
ISSN: 0732-183X [Print] United States |
PMID | 7528272
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Chorionic Gonadotropin
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
- Peptide Fragments
- alpha-Fetoproteins
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Biomarkers, Tumor
(blood)
- Chorionic Gonadotropin
(blood)
- Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
- Disease-Free Survival
- Half-Life
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Peptide Fragments
(blood)
- Prognosis
- Teratoma
(blood, drug therapy, mortality, pathology, secondary)
- Testicular Neoplasms
(blood, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
- alpha-Fetoproteins
(analysis)
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