Stages of Germ Cell Tumors

In all cases, treatment should be individualized for you. Although germ cell tumors are categorized into different prognoses, each person is unique.

The Following Prognostic Groups Are Used For Germ Cell Tumors:

Good Prognosis

  • Nonseminoma Germ Cell Tumor is in the Good Prognosis group if the tumor is in the back of the abdomen and the tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs and the levels of tumor markers AFP and β-hCG are normal and LDH is slightly above normal. 
  • Seminoma Germ Cell Tumor is in the Good Prognosis Group if the tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs and the level of AFP is normal; β-hCG and LDH may be at any level.

Intermediate Prognosis

  • Nonseminoma Germ Cell Tumor is in the Intermediate Prognosis Group if the tumor is in the back of the abdomen and the tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs and the level of any one of the tumor markers (AFP, β-hCG, or LDH) is more than slightly above normal. 
  • Seminoma Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor is in the Intermediate Prognosis Group if the tumor has spread to organs other than the lungs and the level of AFP is normal; β-hCG and LDH may be at any level.

Poor Prognosis

  • Nonseminoma Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor is in the Poor Prognosis Group if:
    • The tumor is in the chest or the tumor has spread to organs other than the lungs;
    • OR the level of any one of the tumor markers (AFP, β-hCG, or LDH) is high.