Experiences with SCC antigen, a new tumor marker for cervical carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was first described by Kato et al. in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri. SCC serum levels can be measured with a radioimmunoassay. In our investigation, 2.0 ng/ml was taken as the upper limit of the standard range. In 35 healthy women there were no elevated SCC serum levels. Eight of 40 patients with breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer had raised SCC levels. In only two of 12 patients with benign gynecological diseases, SCC was also elevated. Sixty per cent of the patients with primary and 73% of the patients with recurrent cervical cancer showed pathological values; CEA was elevated in 31% and 51% respectively. The absolute values increased with the stage of the disease. Sixty-nine per cent of patients with squamous cell carcinoma had elevated levels. In five of nine adenosquamous carcinomas SCC was pathological. SCC shows a high sensitivity for squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The tumor marker might be helpful in the control of primary therapy and follow-up of cervical cancer patients.