title: Concentration of free hCGbeta subunit in serum as a prognostic marker for squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum hCGbeta in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients (n = 59) with cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx. As a reference marker we used squamous-cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg). A blood sample was obtained from all patients before primary surgery. Serum hCGbeta was determined by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) and SCCAg by a solid phase immunoenzymometric assay. Elevated preoperative hCGbeta levels were observed in 8 (14%) and elevated SCCAg in 12 (20%) out of 59 patients. Patients with preoperatively elevated hCGbeta had a shorter recurrence-free survival when compared with those with normal hCGbeta levels (log-rank Chi-squared = 6.83, p =.009), and the risk-ratio for recurrence during follow-up for those was 3.6 (95% CI = 1.29-9.94). In a Cox multivariate model hCGbeta (p = 0.039) and stage (p = 0.044) were independent prognostic factors. SCCAg showed no correlation with recurrence-free survival. We conclude that determination of hCGbeta in serum is a potential marker in the prognostic evaluation of patients with SCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. johan.hedstrom@huch.fi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hedström
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grenman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haglund
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D015843:Serpins
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen