title: Combined use of established and novel tumour markers in the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Serum SCC, CYFRA 21-1, and CEA are the common tumour markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), although diagnostic sensitivity should be yet improved, especially at early stages. In the present study, we have reported the diagnostic value of two novel serum tumour markers in HNSCC: alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) activity, and total sialic acid concentration adjusted by total protein concentration (TSA/TP). Using the cut-off 4.0 U/ml, AFU showed a sensitivity of 55% with specificity levels of 91%, 85% and 50% to discriminate HNSCC patients from healthy donors, drinking and smoking subjects, and patients with benign diseases, respectively. Furthermore, AFU showed the best sensitivity (71%) in the detection of patients with premalign lesions. Using the cut-off 12.0 ng/mg, TSA/TP showed the best sensitivity levels (63%) in the diagnosis of HNSCC with specificity levels of 94%, 50% and 90%, regarding healthy donors, drinking and smoking subjects, and patients with benign diseases, respectively. It was of special interest that sensitivity in the diagnosis of HNSCC at non-disseminated stages was improved when using combinations of AFU+CYFRA or TSA/TP+CYFRA, up to 86% or 71% in TNM I, 60% or 80% in TNM II, and 80% or 60% in TNM III, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayude
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gacio
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Páez de la Cadena
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pallas
authors.forename: Vicenta Soledad
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Martínez-Zorzano
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Carlos
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Berrocal
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19; D007633:Keratins; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D053539:Keratin-19; C102012:antigen CYFRA21.1; D007633:Keratins; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid