title: Cyfra 21-1 as a tumor marker for follow-up of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance and potential of Cyfra 21-1 as a tumor marker (TM) for follow-up of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of oropharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyfra 21-1 serum levels of 50 patients with oropharyngeal SCC were evaluated by ECLIA assay. Statistical analysis was performed using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant correlation between the Cyfra 21-1 level at the time of initial diagnosis, nor with the clinical and pathological parameters: T-stage (p=0.5), lymph node metastasis (p=0.73), and histological grade (p=0.35). The sensitivity and specificity of Cyfra 21-1 as a follow-up tumor marker was 45% and 93.3%, respectively. In cases of local tumor recurrence or distant metastasis, a higher concentration of Cyfra 21-1 during follow-up was observed than at the time of initial diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyfra 21-1 serum concentration is not suitable for use in early diagnosis of SCC of the oropharynx. An abrupt increase of Cyfra 21-1 during follow-up indicates disease progression or distant metastasis in the individual patient, independently from the cut-off value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University-Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Campus Marburg, Deutschhausstrasse 3, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alkotyfan
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: Hans-Helge
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Jochen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Windfuhr
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sesterhenn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053539:Keratin-19; C102012:antigen CYFRA21.1