Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We have studied the usefulness of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) in diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer (LC).


METHODS
We have measured the serum SCC Ag levels in 388 subjects: 69 healthy persons; 103 with nonmalignant lung diseases (NMLD); 24 with lung metastasis of extrapulmonary origin (LMEO); and 192 with LC (88, with squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] type). In 55 with SCC, we analyzed the survival time.


RESULTS
Serum SCC Ag was above 2.5 ng/ml in 1.4 percent of healthy persons; 2.9 percent of those with NMLD; 8.3 percent of those with LMEO; and 27.6 percent of those with LC. Such percentage was 47.7 percent in SCC. In this type, there were significant differences according to the extent of disease (61.6 percent in advanced stages, and 26.5 percent in localized stages, p = 0.002). In the other types, the sensitivity was substantially lower. The initial SCC Ag has prognostic significance (p = 0.02) in the univariate analysis, but it loses such significance in a multivariate model, including the stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, we do not recommend this marker in the clinical management of patients with LC, even it can be useful in the differential diagnosis if used in combination with other markers.
Sánchez De Cos
J
J
Unit of Pneumology, Hospital San Pedro de Alcantara, Caceres, Spain.
Masa
F
F
de la Cruz
J L
JL
Disdier
C
C
Vergara
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015843:Serpins; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen