SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA ANTIGEN (SCC AG) IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF LUNG-CANCER

Objective: We have studied the usefulness of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC hg) in diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer (LC). Material and Methods: We have measured the serum SCC Ag levels in 388 subjects: 69 healthy persons; 103 with nonmalignant lung diseases (NMLD); 24 with lung metastasis of extrapulmonary origin (LMEO); and 192 with LC (88, with squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] type). In 55 with SCC, we analyzed the survival time. Results: Serum SCC Ag was above 2.5 ng/ml in 1.4 percent of healthy persons; 2.9 percent of those with NMLD; 8.3 percent of those with LMEO; and 27.6 percent of those with LC. Such percentage was 47.7 percent in SCC. In this type, there were significant differences according to the extent of disease (61.6 percent in advanced stages, and 26.5 percent in localized stages, p = 0.002). In the other types, the sensitivity was substantially lower. The initial SCC rig has prognostic significance (p = 0.02) in the univariate analysis, but it loses such significance in a multivariate model, including the stage. Conclusions: Therefore, we do not recommend this marker in the clinical management of patients with LC, even it can be useful in the differential diagnosis if used in combination with other markers.