Evaluation of TATI and CYFRA 21-1 in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

This preliminary nonrandomized study was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of TATI and CYFRA 21-1 as tumor markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Serum levels of these markers were measured from 122 subjects of a tertiary-care university hospital, divided into four groups: (1) normal individuals and patients with (2) inflammatory pathology, (3) benign tumors and (4) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Serum samples were collected before and after treatment, with a mean follow-up period of 12 months. The cutoff level, sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio of a positive and negative test were: 21 microg/l, 66.6%, 93.75%, 10.6 and 0.35 for TATI; 3.3 microg/l, 28.5%, 95%, 5.7 and 0.75 for CYFRA 21-1, respectively. Both markers presented elevated mean values and statistically significant differences in the cancer patient group compared with the other groups. Significant differences were also observed between the stage of disease and tumor differentiation. TATI levels seem to relate positively to the course of disease during the follow-up period. Although CYFRA 21-1 values presented significant differences, the majority of them were under the cutoff level. We conclude that TATI seems to play a role in the clinical evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, while the usefulness of CYFRA 21-1 is limited.