Squamous cell carcinoma antigen: clinical utility in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

This study further defines the clinical utility of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in initial squamous carcinoma of the cervix, response to treatment, and in the detection of recurrence. Serum specimens were drawn and analyzed from patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Charts were reviewed on 272 patients with 1053 samples evaluated. Treatment of patients prior to the availability of the assay and patients lost to follow-up resulted in lower total numbers of initial and recurrent values. Data were analyzed to detect trends during and after treatment. All values at or above the lowest detectable level of antigen were included; that is, 1.5 ng/ml and above. A SCC-Ag value > or = 2.0 ng/ml drawn at any time during the disease process has a 96.3% positive predictive value, while a value < 2.0 ng/ml is 97.2% specific for absence of disease. Fifty-three percent of 103 patients had elevated SCC-Ag levels prior to treatment, with the proportion increasing accordingly with advancing stage at diagnosis. In 70 patients with recurrence, 81% had elevated values. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen predicted recurrence an average of 6.9 months prior to detection of clinically evident disease. Patients with initially negative SCC-Ag levels may demonstrate elevated values with tumor recurrence. This marker accurately reflects the response to treatment in patients who have elevated levels prior to treatment. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is a useful tumor marker in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Age as a prognostic factor in cancer of the cervix: the UAMS experience.

Current literature has conflicting reports as to the effect of age on prognosis in cancer of the uterine cervix. In order to evaluate this in our patient population we undertook a retrospective chart review of 235 cases of cervical cancer that were seen at the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) from March 1974 to June 1985 and were followed for a minimum of 54 months. State, grade and age greater than 70 years were significant predictors. Factors that were not statistically significant were race and morphology. Age less than 40, approached statistical significance as a predictive value. Our patients younger than age 40 had a tendency toward a slightly decreased survival when compared to those ages 40-60 and also a much decreased disease-free interval (50 months versus 97 months). This paper was presented on October 25, 1990 at Student Research Day at UAMS.