The squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) is a purified subfraction of tumor antigen 4 (TA-4), a glycoprotein located in the cytoplasm of normal squamous epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, We measured the serum serum
levels of
SCC by radioimmunoassay in 95 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix to determine correlation with the presence of lymph node metastasis, response to radiation therapy, its value in the early detection of recurrence after
treatment, and the prognostic value, Sixty percents of those had SCC level above 2.0ng/ml. Ten of 24(41.7%) patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma stage I, 61.7%(37/60) with stage II, 83.3%(5/6) with stage III, and 100%(2/2) with stage IV
had
SCC levels above 2.0ng/ml. Fourty one patients underwent radical hysterectomy and elevated SCC levels were associated with the presence of pelvic node metastasis(p<0.01). Fourty four patient underwent radiation therapy. Serial serum samples were
obtained. Only follow-up SCC titers were correlated with tumor recurrence or progression. Mean pretreatment SCC values for patients who died of disease were significantly higher than for those who are still alive (p<0.01).
We concluded that the pretreatment SCC levels were well correlated with nodal status and had some prognostic value, but its value in assessing response to therapy was limited. Serial measurements of the serum levels of SCC provide a reliable clue
for
early detection of recurrence or progressive disease and may be useful for monitoring the patients.
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