title: The usefulness of new serum tumor markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of specific and reliable serum biomarkers to predict cervical lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of cases and controls. Thirty-nine serum samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were collected from patients during neoplasm resection. Another 10 serum samples were collected from healthy individuals as a control group. Selected serum biomarkers were E-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9, active MMP-13, and p53 autoantibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a correlation between active MMP-13 (>685 pg/mL; ROC curve analysis 95% CI for sensitivity 79.6-99.3; specificity 49.2-95.1; positive predictive value 65-100; and negative predictive value 36-100) as well as the presence of p53 autoantibodies and lymph node metastasis. Multimarker analysis using MMP-13 and p53 autoantibodies together provided better sensitivity (76%) and specificity (100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined determination of active MMP-13 and p53 autoantibodies could improve diagnosis of lymphatic metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and aid therapeutic decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Valle del Nalón Langreo, Oviedo, Spain. alvarezmarcos@telefonica.net
authors.forename: César Alvarez
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: Daniel Al Kassam
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Juan Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Los Toyos
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Domínguez Iglesias
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermsen
authors.forename: Marta Alonso
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guervós
authors.forename: José Luis Llorente
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pendás
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000097:blood*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9