The Evaluation of SCC (squamous cell carcinoma antigen) Level as a Tumor Marker in Patient with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Park, Sung Yong; Kim, Sang Jin; Kim, Hyun Ho

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of SCC as a tumor marker in patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. We measured the serum levels of SCC by radioimmunoassay in patient with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of cervix to determine the prognostic value, correlation with the presence of lymph node metastasis, response to treatment, and those value in the early detection of recurrence after treatment. The result was: 1) In 117 of 174 patients with cervical cancer, the pretreatment positive rate of SCC was 47.0%(57/117). In each stage, the stage Ia was 25.0%, Ib 26.3%, IIa 56.0%, 62.6%, III 57.1%, IV 100%, and the recurrent case was 37.5%. 2) In 79 of 174 patients with cervical cancer, the pretreatment positive rate of SCC was 44,0%(30/69) in no evidence of malignancy patients, but 60.0%(6/10) in recurrent or permanent patients(p>0.05), 3) In 133 of 174 patients with cervical cancer, the posttreatment positive rate of SCC was 2.6%(3/117) in no evidence of malignancy patients, but 50.0%(8/16) in recurrent or permanent patients(p<0.05). 4) In 48 patients of 174 with cervical cancer who underwent radical hystrectomy, the positive rate of SCC was 71.4%(5/7) in pelvic lymph node positive patients but 19,5%(8/41) in pelvic lymph node negative patients(p<0.05). We concluded that the pretreatment SCC level was not effective as a prognostic value, but well correlated with pelvic lymph node metastasis, and serial measurements of serum levels of SCC provided a reliable clue for early detection of recurrence or progression of disease, so it may be useful for monitoring cervical carcinoma patient.