Squamous cell carcinoma antigen. Issue 13 (10th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Matt; Swampillai, Angela; Osborne, Melanie; Mawdsley, Suzannah; Hughes, Rob; Harrison, Mark; Harvey, Richard; Glynne‐Jones, Rob; Mount Vernon Colorectal Cancer Network
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 119:Issue 13(2013)
• Page Start: 2391
• Page End: 2398
• Publication Date: 2013-04-10
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cncr28055-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the predictive value of pretreatment serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) levels in 174 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus who received concurrent chemoradiation between 1997 and 2010.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28055-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>Pretreatment serum SCCAg measurements in patients with histologically diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal and margin who received chemoradiation were compared with clinical tumor classification and lymph node status for prognostic/predictive ability, including 1) tumor response after the completion of chemoradiation treatment, 2) disease recurrence, and 3) overall survival. Clinical measurements and scores were compared using Spearman rank tests, and survival was assessed in both univariate and multivariate survival analyses.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28055-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>The median pretreatment levels of SCCAg according to clinical tumor classification and clinical lymph node status were 0.8 μg/L in T1 tumors, 1.90 μg/L in T2 tumors, 2.5 μg/L in T3 tumors, 3.8 μg/L in T4 tumors, 1.35 μg/L in patients with N0 status, and 3.05 μg/L in patients with N0+ status (correlation coefficient: T‐classification, 0.43; lymph node status, 0.38; both <italic>P</italic> < .00001). Of the patients who had normal SCCAg levels, 95% achieved a complete response after initial treatment; and, of those who had elevated SCCAg levels, 86% achieved a complete response (<italic>P</italic> = .05). Overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.5; <italic>P</italic> = .007) and disease‐free survival (hazard ratio, 2.2; <italic>P</italic> = .058) were worse for those who had elevated pretreatment serum SCCAg concentrations.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28055-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>Pretreatment SCCAg levels in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal and margin were correlated with clinical tumor classification and clinical lymph node status. Elevated levels of SCCAg were associated with a reduced chance of achieving a complete response and an increased chance of recurrence and death. The authors recommend further studies to determine the prognostic value of SCCAg in anal squamous cell carcinoma and suggest the potential use of SCCAg as a stratification factor in future trials. <bold><italic>Cancer</italic> 2013;119:2391‐2398</bold>. © <italic>2013 American Cancer Society</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>