Detection of five circulating antigens in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Five tumor markers (CEA, Ferritin, CA-50, TPA and SCC) were assayed in 54 patients with ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancers in early and advanced stages. The specificity of these markers always exceeded 95%. Their sensitivity ranged from 13 to 43%, and reached 72% as a combination of all five markers. No distinction was found between early and advanced stage of illness. These markers seem to have no distinct function in ENT oncological diagnosis and follow-up because objective data is easily available even in early tumors.