title: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen, circulating immune complexes, and immunoglobulins in monitoring squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck: a study of the hellenic co-operative oncology group (HeCOG).
abstract: This study investigates the clinical utility of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), circulating immune complexes (CIC), and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) in the diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of 117 squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCC-HN) patients having local and/or systemic treatment. Serum marker levels were measured in a prospective study. SCC-Ag was positive in 28.2% of patients, the CIC in 63.2%, the IgA in 11.1%, the IgG in 15.4%, and the IgM in 9.44%. Statistically significant correlation was found between the initial SCC-Ag levels and tumor localization, whereas the CIC levels were increasing significantly with progressing disease stages. It was also found that the significant decrease of SCC-Ag, IgA, and CIC levels at the end of treatment was correlated with an increased incidence of disease-free status. The initial values of IgG and the disease stage were significantly correlated with a favorable treatment outcome. The pretreatment elevated SCC-Ag and IgM serum values showed a significant trend to predict a disease progression. Using a Cox proportional hazards model the IgG serum values, the primary site, and the disease stage were significant predictors for time to progression. The significant decrease of SCC-Ag, IgA, and CIC values at the completion of treatment was correlated with an increased incidence of disease-free status. This study indicates that only the estimation of SCC-Ag and in some degree the IgM and/or IgG is a potential tool for monitoring the efficacy of treatment or disease recurrence in SCC-HN.
authors.affiliation: Ahepa Hospital, Aristotele University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Makrantonakis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aggouridakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visvikis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daniilidis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen