7/28/2019 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen - Squamous Cell
Carcinoma Antigen
1/2
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NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY
Disease Overview
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant cancer of
epithelium that shows squamous cell differentiation. It can
occur in several tissues, including uterine cervix, oral
cavity,
esophagus,lung,analcanal,andskin.
Serum concentrations of SCC antigen are often elevated in
patientswithSCC.
Epidemiology
Morethan90percentoftheestimated46,000annualcasesof
cancersoftheoralcavityandoropharynx(alsoknownashead
andneckcancer)areSCC.
Approximately85percentoftheestimated11,000annualcases
ofcervicalcancerareSCC.
Approximately30percentoftheestimated213,000annualcases
oflungcancerareSCC.
Pathophysiology
SCC antigen isexpressedin normalepithelium and epithelial
tissues.It isa glycoproteinwitha molecular weight between
45,000and55,000daltons.
SCC is found in 10 protein fractions with isoelectric
pointsrangingfrom5.9to6.6.
WhiletheneutralformsofSCCnormallyremaininsidethecell,
acidicSCCantigenisreleasedandoftenelevatedinpatientswho
havesquamouscellcarcinomasorothernonmalignantsquamous
celllesions.
SCC antigen may be involved in the malignant behavior of
squamouscellcancers,functioningininvasionand/ormetastasis.
Consequently, serum concentrations of SCC antigen can be
usedtomonitorvariousSCC.AssociationsbetweenserumSCC
antigen concentrations and tumor stage, size,and progression
havealsobeenobserved.
Indications for Ordering
SCCantigenisusefulformonitoringcancerrecurrencefollowingtheremovalofSCC.Thehalf-lifeofSCCantigeninserumis
2.2hours.Concentrationsthat remain persistently elevated or
begintoincrease followingtumorremovalsuggestpersistentor
recurrentdisease.
In cases where SCC antigen levels will be used to monitor
progressofpatients,testingshouldbeperformedpriortosurgery.
Methodology
SCCantigen ismeasuredusinganalyte-specicreagentsin an
enzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassaymanufacturedbyARUP.
Human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) blocking reagents are
usedto inhibit thepotentialinuenceofinterferingantibodies
thatmaybepresentinsomeserumsamples.
Interpretation
A reference interval study conducted byARUP using serum
samples collected from 136healthy volunteers(66 males, 70
females)aged1975yearsidentiedaSCCantigenconcentration
of2.2ng/mLastheupper95thpercentile. A variety of nonmalignant
benign diseases of the skin (e.g.,
eczema, erythrodermicepidermitis, pemphigus, andpsoriasis),
lungs (e.g., tuberculosis, adult respiratory distress
syndrome,
sarcoidosis, and the presence of pleural effusion), and
other
commonconditionsmayresultinincreasedserumconcentrations
ofSCCantigen.Thus,SCCantigenresultsaloneshouldnotbe
interpretedasevidenceofthepresenceorabsenceofmalignant
disease.
Limitations
Because saliva, sweat, and respiratory secretions contain
high
concentrationsofSCCantigen,precautionsmustbetakentoprevent
samplecontamination.IncaseswhereelevatedorincreasedSCC
antigenconcentrationsareobserved,retestingofanewsampleis
indicatedtoexcludecontamination.
References
1.SturgeonCM,et al.Nationalacademyofclinicalbiochemistry
laboratorymedicinepracticeguidelinesforuseoftumormarkers
in liver, bladder, cervical, and gastric cancers. Ci Cm
2010;56:e148.
2.SuminamiY,NawataS,KatoH.BiologicalroleofSCCantigen.
Tumur Bi1998;19:48893.
3.CrombachG,etal.Detectionofsquamouscellcarcinomaantigen
innormalsquamousepitheliaandinsquamouscellcarcinomas
oftheuterinecervix.Cacr1989;63:133742.
4.MinoN,LioA,HamamotoK.Availabilityoftumorantigen4asa
markerofsquamouscellcarcinomaofthelungandotherorgans.
Cacr1988;62:7304.5.
TorreGC.SCCantigeninmalignantandnonmalignantsquamous
lesions.TumourBiol1998;19:51726.
6.Yoshimasu T, et al. Disappearance curves for tumor markers
afterresectionofintrathoracicmalignancies.It J Bi Markr
1999;14:99105.
7.Cho WC. Potentially useful biomarkers for the diagnosis,
treatmentandprognosis oflungcancer.Bimd Patmactr
2007;61(9):5159.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
AntigenFoR TReATMenT MonIToRIng In PATIenTs wIThsqUAMoUs Cell
CARCInoMAs
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