An accurate and relatively simple method to detect testicular germ cell @entity5 of adolescents and adults (TGCTs) could be useful for early detection and may help to avoid unnecessary orchidectomies. We report a highly sensitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for the 1.5 kb transcript of the platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor for molecular diagnosis of TGCTs. As a simulation of the clinical application of the assay the approach was applied on through-cut-biopsies from orchidectomy specimens. In a series of 31 specimens, the 1.5 kb transcript was detected in all samples containing either @entity2735 , or an invasive @entity2969 , with mature @entity44 as only exception. No expression was detected in normal parenchyma. On the basis of the through-cut-biopsies the assay shows a sensitivity of 0.87 and a specificity of 1.00. The positive and negative predictive values of the test are 1.00 and 1.00. For @entity2735 alone these values are 0.86, 1.00, 1.00, and 0.80, respectively. The figures at least equal the results obtained with the most sensitive morphological/enzyme-histochemical study of duplicate biopsies. We conclude that the 1.5 kb transcript of the platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor is a useful molecular marker for TGCTs, and therefore of interest in a clinical setting.

The platelet-derived growth factor alpha-receptor 1.5 kb transcript: target for molecular detection of testicular germ cell XXXX of adolescents and adults.

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumours'] @entity2969 :: ('MESH:C563236', 'Disease') :: ['TGCT'] @entity2735 :: ('MESH:D002278', 'Disease') :: ['carcinoma in situ'] @entity44 :: ('MESH:D013724', 'Disease') :: ['teratoma']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['tumours']
