What hormone may be produced by a seminoma testicular tumor?

Seminoma, a type of germ cell tumor that typically arises in the testis, is known for its unique hormonal profile. Among the given options, beta-hCG is the hormone that can be produced by seminomas, albeit in a small percentage of cases. While seminomas are primarily characterized by the expression of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and they generally do not produce significant amounts of testosterone, they can produce beta-hCG, often in lower levels compared to other germ cell tumors.

In contrast to beta-hCG, testosterone is primarily produced by Leydig cells, which are not involved in the pathophysiology of seminoma. This makes testosterone unlikely to be elevated in this context. Additionally, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) is an enzyme that can be elevated in various conditions, including cancers and tissue damage, but it is not specific to seminomas or indicative of a hormone produced by the tumor. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is typically associated with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors and is not characteristically produced by seminomas.

Thus, beta-hCG emerging as the answer highlights the understanding of seminomas and their potential hormonal secretion, reflecting both the nature of the tumor and its