Squamous cell carcinoma antigen isoforms in serum from cervical cancer patients

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is a serological marker of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). To study whether any of the SCCA isoforms would provide additional and more specific/sensitive clinical information than total SCCA, immunoassays specific for the different forms of SCCA (free SCCA2, total SCCA2, total SCCA1 and total SCCA) were developed. SCCA isoforms were determined before therapy and in follow-up samples from patients with cervical cancer and in serum samples from healthy females. Serum samples from patients with benign skin diseases (psoriasis and eczema) were also selected based on elevated SCCA levels. Rising levels of SCCA1 and SCCA2 were seen in patients with recurrence or progressive disease at the end of the study. The rise in SCCA2 was usually more prominent than that in SCCA1. The dominating serological form of SCCA was free SCCA2 both in healthy controls and in patients with cervical cancer. Both SCCA1 and SCCA2 were elevated in serum from cervical cancer patients and followed the clinical course of the disease during therapy monitoring. SCCA2 did not show improved tumor specificity as compared to SCCA1. A larger study is however necessary to make firm conclusions.