Description
Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is a membrane-associated siaglycoprotein enzyme normally present at high concentration in syncytiotrophoblasts within the placenta during the third trimester of gestation. The expression of PLAP was originally thought to be restricted to term placenta but a human PLAP-like variant has been described which shares more than 85% homology with PLAP itself. PLAP is expressed only in normal term placenta, endocervix and fallopian tube and also in ovarian and proximal gastrointestinal tumors. It is also commonly expressed in germ cell tumors and more recently described in seminomas