title: Studies of the serum HER-2/neu and squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen expression in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over-expression of HER-2/neu has been associated with advanced disease, metastasis, and poor clinical outcome. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)-related antigen (SCCA) is used as a tumor marker in a variety of SCC. This study was performed to investigate the pre- and post-treatment values of HER-2/neu and SCCA in patients with oral SCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with OSCC were enrolled between 2002 and 2004. Serum samples were obtained before treatment and at 1 month following treatment. HER-2/neu levels and SCCA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was found between HER-2/neu and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0252). SCCA correlated with tumor size (P = 0.0042). Both HER-2/neu and SCCA mean levels were reduced significantly after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of HER-2/neu and SCCA serum levels may be a useful marker in evaluating therapeutic effects and in monitoring the recurrence rate of OSCC and survival rate of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Chung-Ho memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tsung Lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yi-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chi-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood*; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen