Serum and tissue levels of manganese superoxide dismutase in testicular germ cell tumors.

Abstract

To investigate the potential of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) as a tumor marker for seminoma. A total of 44 patients with testicular germ cell tumors were assessed for serum and tissue levels of MnSOD in comparison with levels of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Positive rates of serum MnSOD were 11% for stage I, 25% for stage II and 80% for stage III. No difference was observed in serum MnSOD between seminoma and NSGCT. No difference was demonstrated in tissue MnSOD level between seminoma and NSGCT, or between tumors and their normal counterparts. Since serum MnSOD was shown to have lower sensitivity than PLAP, and MnSOD concentration did not differ significantly between tumors and their normal counterparts, the role of MnSOD as a marker for seminoma appears to be limited.