The efficacy of tumor markers SCC, CEA, and CA-125 in patients with cervical cancer

Suh, Dong Joo; Jeong, Yu A; Chang, Jae Hyuk; Lee, Nak Woo; Kim, Tak; Lee, Kyu Wan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the positive rate of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA-125 according to clinical stage and histology. We also determine the rate of normalization of SCC after surgical and radiation therapy.
RESULTS
In 222 patients with cervical cancer, the pre-treatment positive rate of SCC, CEA, and CA- 125 were 38.7%, 24.3%, and 19.8%, respectively. The positive rate of SCC by clinical stage were 12.9% for stage I, 60.5% for stage II, 88.2% for stage III, and 87.5% for stage IV. The positive rate of CEA by stage were 7.8% for stage I, 36.4% for stage II, 83.3% for stage III, and 75% for stage IV. The positive rate of CA-125 by stage were 5.9% for stage I, 23.3% for stage II, 83.3% for stage III, and 75% for stage IV. The positive rates of SCC, CEA, and CA-125 were significantly increased by clinical stage. According to histology, the positive rate of SCC (39.8%) was more significantly higher than the positive rates of other tumor makers in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The positive rate of CA-125 was higher than the positive rate of other tumor markers in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, but it was not statistically significant difference.
CONCLUSION
SCC have been shown to be higher positive rate than any other tumor markers in patients with cervical cancer. The positive rates of SCC, CEA, and CA-125 were significantly increased by clinical stage. Concomitant measurement of SCC, CEA, and CA-125 may be more useful than measurement of SCC alone, and further study was needed.