[Diagnostic value of tissue polypeptide antigen in serum of larynx cancer patients].
Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) is a serological tumour marker used in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of pretreatment TPA serum levels in patients with larynx cancer. The predicting ability of this tumour marker with respect to histological type, pathological state and lymph node metastasis was also assessed.


METHODS
Concentrations of the TPA in the serum from 35 patients were measured by immunoradiometric assay.


RESULTS
The results showed the sensitivity value for the group of 35 patients was 29.4%, but in clinical stage IV was 70%. TPA levels correlate with T classification and lymph node metastasis. In T4 tumors it was significantly higher than in T2 (p=0.047). TPA levels were significantly higher in patients with nodal invasion and were generally lower in patients with spinocellular carcinoma (p=0.0048).


CONCLUSIONS
Our date indicate that TPA is of limited usefulness in the primary diagnosis in patients with larynx cancer, but is useful in detecting lymph node metastasis.
Polberg
Krzysztof
K
Oddział Otolaryngologii Wojewódzkiego Szpitala Specjalistycznego w Zamościu.
Stepulak
Andrzej
A
Stryjecka-Zimmer
Marta
M
Kupisz
Krzysztof
K
Zawiślak
Jerzy
J
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011044:Poland; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen