Measurement of squamous cell carcinoma antigen 2 in lichen planus patients

Lichen planus (LP) is an autoinflammatory mucocutaneous skin disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is a tumor marker recognized as a part of the ovalbumin-serpin family. In patients' serum and skin, SCCA expression is increased with inflammatory skin diseases as psoriasis.

This study aimed to estimate serum SCCA2 levels in patients with LP and to assess its relationship with disease severity and types.

We included 34 adult patients with LP and 20 healthy adults as control. The total score of LP activity, area, and severity index was calculated for all patients, whereas serum SCCA2 levels were measured in all participants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The mean serum SCCA2 levels were significantly higher in patients than their healthy controls (P < .001) and in female patients than male patients (P < .01). The mean serum SCCA2 levels in patients with eruptive LP were significantly higher compared to those with localized (P < .05) and hypertrophic (P < .01) forms. In ROC analysis, when LPAASI = 5 was taken as the limit, an ideal SCCA2 endpoint was discovered at 0.45 ng/mL with the upper Youden index.

Serum SCCA2 might be a potential biomarker for LP as it was elevated in patients with LP and was associated with disease severity. Further studies are needed to assess the therapeutic effect of its blockade, which could be a way to improve outcome in LP patients.