Editing Germ Cell Tumours (section)

===== <span style="color:#ff0000">LDH</span> =====
* At diagnosis, elevated in ≈20% of low-stage GCT and 20-60% of advanced GCT
* '''Least relevant and clinically applicable of the tumour markers'''
** Non-specific marker
** '''Main use in GCT is in the''' '''prognostic (S stage classification) assessment at diagnosis.'''
** '''Treatment decisions based solely on LDH elevation in the setting of normal AFP and hCG should be discouraged.'''
* '''Normal value 48-115 IU/liter'''
**Magnitude of LDH elevation correlates with bulk of disease.
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Serum half-life: varies[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3818947/]</span>'''
* LDH is expressed in smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscles and can be elevated from cancerous (kidney, lymphoma, GI, breast) or non-cancerous conditions (heart failure, anemia, HIV)