[SCC-Ag antigen in serum of patients with primary non-small cell lung carcinoma]

The study aimed at evaluating SCC-Ag in patients with NSCLC, especially its predictive value following radical lung surgery. The study involved 70 patients with NSCLC and 48 patients with non-cancerous lesions to the lungs. SCC-Ag was assayed with Imx technique supplied by Abbott. Serum was tested before and 3 years after surgery. The results were analysed statistically with Wilcoxon-Fisher test. Elevated SCC-Ag levels were found in 45.7% of patients with NSCLC and in 4.1% pf patients with non-cancerous lesions. An increase in this antigen level was most frequent in patients with squamous-cell lung carcinoma (65.7%) and percentage of increased values was higher in more advanced stages of the disease (40% in I stage, 66.7% in II, and 78.9% in the III stage). During a 3-year follow-up, a relationship of recurrences or metastases and SCC-Ag levels was noted. Recurrence or metastases were more frequent when antigen levels were increased both before surgery and in postoperative period. The same relationship was seen when normal values before surgery increased after surgical treatment.