American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Which two tumor markers are used to monitor response to treatment and detect recurrence of testicular germ cell cancer?

1. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

2. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

3. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

4. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and serum lipase

The correct answer is: Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are crucial tumor markers specifically used in the management of testicular germ cell cancer. These markers play significant roles in both monitoring treatment responses and detecting potential recurrences of the disease. Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that is typically produced by the fetal liver, but its levels are elevated in certain testicular cancers, particularly non-seminomas. Monitoring AFP levels can provide valuable information about the presence of disease and its response to therapy. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, similarly, is a hormone that can be produced by testicular tumors. Elevated b-hCG levels are particularly associated with germ cell tumors and are also used to assess treatment efficacy. In clinical practice, measuring changes in the levels of these two markers during and after therapy can help healthcare providers evaluate how well the treatment is working and to detect any signs of recurrence early. Other options such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are more relevant for different types of cancers and are not standard markers in the context of testicular germ cell cancer. Therefore, the combination of b-hCG and AFP provides the most accurate and relevant