[Clinical evaluation of tumor markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas]

The serum levels of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) have been examined in 55 patients with a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and the squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC) levels were also detected in 36 of these subjects. With the advancement of the T-stage, an elevation in both the original SCC and the beta 2M levels was seen, though the level of the CEA did not relate with the T-stage. In three markers, the SCC clearly changed, in relation to the clinical conditions. About two-thirds (63%) of the advanced tumors (T 3 + 4) had a higher SCC level than the cut-off value (1.5 ng/ml), while levels in most early carcinomas did not reach the border line. In cases that were successfully treated, elevated SCC levels were lowered to below 1.5 ng/ml without exception, whereas the SCC values of cases with a bad prognosis remained at a high level. Further, the consecutive elevation of the beta 2M levels was observed even after the treatments. From these results, it seems that SCC combined with CEA appears useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.