Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC)

General Information

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is a tumor marker used to evaluate and monitor squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, lung, esophagus, and cervix. It is not used for screening, but only in the management of already confirmed or suspected cases.

Squamous cell carcinoma (scc) antigen is a glycoprotein belonging to the group of serine/cysteine ​​protease inhibitors.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is a serological marker for squamous cell carcinomas localized in the cervix, vulva, lung, esophagus, and head and neck.

The usefulness of the study depends on the location of the tumor:

1. Cervical carcinoma

Sensitivity is 45-85% for primary squamous cell carcinoma and 66-84% for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma. Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels correlate with disease severity, lymph node involvement, and the presence of metastases. The pretreatment level is an indicator of prognosis after treatment. Typically, the squamous cell carcinoma antigen level normalizes within 2-7 days after surgery or radiotherapy.

Maintaining a high pre-treatment score for 2-6 weeks after starting therapy indicates a high risk of relapse. After normalization of indicators after treatment, returning to a high level again, despite the absence of clinical signs, may indicate a relapse of the disease. In terms of clinical sensitivity, carcinoembryonic antigen is inferior to squamous cell carcinoma antigen by a ratio of 2:3.

2. Lung carcinoma

In squamous cell tumors of the lung, the sensitivity of determination of squamous cell antigen is 39-78% and is correlated with the stage of the disease and TNM classification (T- primary tumor size and spread, N - involvement of lymph nodes, M- metastases).

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels should return to normal within 2 days of tumor resection. In the case of residual tumors, it is much more difficult to normalize Squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels. An increase in SCC antigen levels 4-5 months after tumor treatment is an indication of tumor recurrence. According to clinical studies, the combined determination of SCC and CEA (carcinoembryonic) antigens increases clinical sensitivity from 35% to 50-82%.

3. Carcinomas of the head and neck

The clinical sensitivity of SCC antigen in these tumors is 34-78% and depends on the disease stage and TNM classification.

The detection rate of SCC antigen in head and neck tumors is as follows: in upper jaw tumors - 49%, in oral cavity tumors 34%, in tongue tumors 23%, in salivary tumors 19%, in throat tumors 11-33%.

In the case of recurrent obesity, the sensitivity is 60-75%.

4. Esophageal tumors

The clinical sensitivity of SCC antigen in esophageal tumors is 30-39%, taking into account the stage of the disease. After a successful surgical intervention, the SCC antigen level returns to normal. Prolonged elevation of antigen levels in residual tumors and increases after initial normalization indicate tumor recurrence.

5. Other genitourinary (urinary) tumors

The sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma antigen research in endometrial tumors is 8-30%, in ovarian tumors - 4-20%, in vulvar tumors - 19-42%, in cervical vaginal tumors - 17%.

Increased levels of SCC antigen are observed in metastatic squamous cell tumors of the genital tract and urethra, approximately 45%.