Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the serum of oromaxillary cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen levels in sera and several tissues were estimated in patients with oral and maxillary cancer. The normal value of serum SCC antigen level was 1.7 ng/ml in this experiment, and 43.3% of squamous cell carcinoma was positively higher than 1.7 ng/ml as a whole, including cases of carcinoma in situ and of recurrence and metastasis in the oral region. In relation to the clinical staging of tumors, 20.0% in stage I, 14.3% in stage II, 42.9% in stage III, and 77.8% in stage IV were positive for SCC antigen. In the group with definite regional lymph node metastases, 80% of patients revealed a higher value than the normal cut-off value. Patients with recurrent SCC demonstrated elevated SCC antigen values in sera except 1 case with an early condition of recurrence. Serum SCC antigen also presented good responses to various cancer treatments. The measurement of SCC antigen does not appear to be useful for the detection of early stage oral and maxillary SCC; however, for detection of recurrence and for lymphatic and/or remote metastases in the follow-up period, it would appear that SCC antigen level would be some value.