Squamous cell carcinoma antigen as a prognostic marker and its correlation with clinicopathological features in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Background Several studies investigate the prognostic value of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC‐Ag) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, with contradicting findings. Considering this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of high SCC‐Ag levels and its association with clinicopathological features of HNSCC. Material and Methods PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies up to December 2015. English‐language publications assessing clinicopathological features of HNSCC and the prognostic significance of SCC‐Ag in this disease were included. A meta‐analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA version 14 software to clarify a possible association between SCC‐Ag and clinical outcomes. Results A total of 11 studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 1901 cases of HNSCC. The results of the meta‐analysis showed that there was significant correlation between high SCC‐Ag levels and males (odds ratio [OR]=2.99, 95% CI: 1.18‐7.57, P=.02 fixed‐effect), and advanced TNM stages (OR=3.18, 95% CI: 1.88‐5.38, P<.0001 random‐effect). The survival meta‐analysis showed a pooled hazard ratio for disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 1.01 (95% CI: 0.70‐1.31) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.54‐1.17), respectively. Conclusion Our meta‐analysis suggests that elevated SCC‐Ag levels have a significant correlation with males and TNM stage, but may not be used as predictive marker for OS and DFS in HNSCC patients.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen concentration in fine needle aspiration samples: A new method to detect cervical lymph node metastases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…SCC‐Ag showed to be valuable as a prognostic serum tumor marker in cervical cancer and non‐small‐cell lung carcinoma, but not so in HNSCC . Because the diagnostic value of SCC‐Ag in FNA is a new finding, it would be of interest to see whether the SCC‐Ag concentration has any prognostic value.…”

“…The measurement of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC‐Ag), originally purified from SCC of the human uterine cervix, could improve the detection of regional HNSCC lymph node metastases in addition to FNAC. Although SCC‐Ag is used as a prognostic serum tumor marker in cervical cancer and non‐small‐cell lung cancer, in HNSCC, the serum SCC‐Ag level showed no significant relation to lymph node metastasis and overall survival . To our knowledge, SCC‐Ag in FNA samples has not previously been studied.…”

The association between serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen and recurrence and survival of patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The other meta-analysis of serum SCC-Ag was conducted in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck patients by Travassos D.C. et al [63] with reported pooled HRs for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 1.01(95% CI: 0.70, 1.31) and 0.86(95% CI: 0.54, 1.17), respectively. Their results showed no association between serum SCC-Ag and cancer prognosis which was different from our study's results in cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients.…”

“…According to the practical aspect, clinicians use FIGO staging system for cervical cancer management; making diagnosis, planning treatment, and forecasting prognosis. The higher stages of disease indicate the worse prognosis for recurrence and death [4,63]. The other known independent prognostic factors are the lymph node status and tumor volumes [5].…”

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen-encoding Genes SERPINB3/B4 as Potentially Useful Markers for the Stratification of HNSCC Tumours

“…Measuring serum concentrations of SCCA constitutes a simple method that has previously been proposed to be of potential use for the diagnosis and follow-up of HNSCC patients (29)(30)(31)(32). While the information gained from serum analysis vs. mRNA levels in tumours are likely different, it is interesting to consider the regulation of SERPINB3/B4 mRNA levels in HNSCC and its potential implications for the use of SCCA.…”