title: The clinical value of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients irradiated for locally advanced cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the value of squamous cell cancer (SCC) antigen in patients irradiated for locally advanced cancer of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 20 patients (group A) treated with radiochemotherapy and in 20 patients (group B) receiving postoperative irradiation serum SCC values were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pretreatment SCC level was 1.6 ng/ml in group A and 1.3 ng/ml in group B. In group A 15% had elevated serum SCC levels above the cut-off level. In group B there were 10%. During follow-up (median 20 months), 10 patients in group A and 8 in group B suffered from a recurrent or progressing disease. Of these 20% in group A and 12.5% in group B had elevated SCC levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that, in the described patient groups, SCC is probably of low value for tumor diagnosis and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie-Radioonkologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. omicke@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Micke
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Eckehard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Büntzel
authors.forename: Normann
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willich
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015843:Serpins; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen