[Limitations of tumor marker surveillance after chemotherapy in advanced non-seminomatous testicular tumors].

Determination of the biochemical tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) gained much importance in respect to staging and follow-up examination of patients presenting with testicular cancer. After cytostatic chemotherapy the reliability of tumor markers is diminished. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RLA) was done in 60 patients after chemotherapy. Tumor marker elevation was found only in 52% of the patients showing retroperitoneal carcinoma (n = 25).