Efficiency of Serum Tumor Markers Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Bhang, Dae Yeon; Kim, Chul Hwan

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recently, the role of serum tumor marker has been studied for an important issue on diagnosing and treating tumors in the head and neck region because tests using tumor markers need relatively simple procedures and are acceptable to patients, compared with other test methods. Tumor marker tests were performed on patients with squamous cell carcinoma, which were known to have the highest prevalence among tumors in the head and neck region. Association between each tumor marker, and diagnosis and prognosis of tumors was assessed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tumor marker tests were carried out on 31 patients who visited Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department in Dankook University Dental Hospital between January 2003 and August 2008 and who were diagnosed as primary oral squamous cell carcinoma through out histopathologic diagnosis. Blood sample from these patients was performed to measure tumor markers using nuclear medicine diagnostic equipment. Measured entries were as follows: PSA(prostate-specific antibody), SCCAg(Squamous Cell Carcinoma Related Antigen), CA 19-9(Cancer Antigen 19-9), Ferritin, alpha- FP(Alpha-Fetoprotein), Cyfra 21-1, CA125 (Cancer Antigen 125) and p53.
RESULTS
Analyses on each tumor marker indicated that squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region had statistically significant correlation with p53, SCC-Ag(TA-4), Cyfra 21-1 and Ferritin. p53 demonstrated the highest sensitivity. Especially, 4 cases among 18 cases which Ferritin was measured exhibited metastasis. In all those 4 cases, Ferritin values were higher than the standards (15 - 332ng/ml). Therefore, Ferritin is considered to have a close relation with metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSION
This study shows that tumor marker tests are more useful in evaluating progression and prognosis of tumors rather than in diagnosing them. Particularly, serum Ferritin is considered to be beneficial in assessing metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region and in developing treatment plans based on the assessment.