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SCC antigen measured in malignant and nonmalignant diseases
R Molina1, X Filella, M D Torres
1Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry (Unit for Cancer Research), Hospital Clinico y Provincial, Medical School, Barcelona, Spain.
Clinical Chemistry
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen is elevated in various cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. SCC antigen shows potential as a cancer biomarker, but its specificity is improved by excluding patients with renal failure.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Oncology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen is a tumor-associated marker.
- Elevated SCC antigen levels are observed in various malignancies and benign conditions.
- Understanding SCC antigen's diagnostic utility requires evaluating its presence in different patient groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic value of serum SCC antigen in patients with benign diseases and various cancers.
- To determine the specificity and sensitivity of SCC antigen for detecting squamous cell carcinoma.
- To investigate the correlation between SCC antigen levels and tumor stage in squamous cell carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- Serum SCC antigen levels were measured in healthy subjects, patients with benign diseases, and cancer patients.
- A threshold of 2.5 µg/L was used as the upper normal limit for serum SCC antigen.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare SCC antigen levels across different groups and correlate with clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- SCC antigen was positive in 2.9% of healthy subjects, 29.0% of patients with benign diseases, and 41% of cancer patients.
- Elevated SCC antigen levels were most frequent in patients with renal failure (64%), lung diseases (40%), and head-and-neck diseases (21.2%).
- Specificity increased to 91.1% when excluding patients with renal failure. SCC antigen was abnormal in 57.7% of squamous cell carcinoma patients versus 9.3% of other cancer types (P < 0.001).
- In squamous cell carcinoma, SCC antigen levels correlated with tumor stage, being highest in patients with metastases.
Conclusions:
- Serum SCC antigen demonstrates potential as a biomarker for squamous cell carcinoma.
- Excluding patients with renal failure significantly improves the specificity of SCC antigen testing.
- SCC antigen levels correlate with tumor burden and stage in squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting its utility in monitoring disease progression.