Assessment of the relationship between serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) concentration in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and the risk of relapse

INTRODUCTION: Parameters that will help to identify patients with better and worse prognosis are sought in subjects with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the relationship between squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) concentration and the risk of relapse in patients with squamous cell cervical carcinoma staged IIB-IIIB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 52 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma staged II B (n = 39) and IIIB (n = 13). Serum SCC-Ag concentration was assessed prior to radiochemotherapy or radiotherapy and four weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The follow-up after treatment ranged from 1 to 33 months (16.2 ±10.5). During follow-up, nine relapses were diagnosed (17.3%). The concentration of SCC-Ag before the treatment was elevated in 41 cases (78.8%) and in 11 cases (21.2%) it was ≤ 2 ng/ml. In all the patients with relapses SCC-Ag concentration before the treatment was elevated. Relapses were diagnosed in five patients with elevated SCC-Ag concentration after the treatment (55.6%) and in four patients with normal SCC-Ag concentration after the treatment (9.3%). There was a positive correlation between SCC-Ag concentration before and after the treatment and relapse occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of serum SCC-Ag concentration in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma before treatment is a valuable supplementary diagnostic tool and patients with high SCC-Ag concentration are at an increased risk of relapse. Due to the relationship between elevated serum SCC-Ag concentration after treatment and increased risk of relapse, these patients may require a more intensive post-treatment follow-up.