Relative levels of SCCA2 and SCCA1 mRNA in primary tumors predicts recurrent disease in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

摘要: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is widely used as a serum marker in cancers of the uterine cervix, head and neck, lung esophagus. Two isoforms SCCA, deriving from 2 highly homologous serine proteinase inhibitor genes, are co-expressed normal malignant squamous epithelium, but it mainly acidic isoform SCCA2 that present circulation cancer patients. We studied relative levels SCCA1 mRNA frozen sections carcinomas neck (SCCHN) relation to disease recurrence, using new reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based technique for accurate quantitation levels. Primary tumors 30 SCCHN patients, recurrent 11 patients epithelium 16 controls were examined. In responding initial therapy (n = 26), an elevated SCCA2/SCCA1 ratio primary tumor predicted recurrence independent clinical stage (p 0.011). The risk developing was 7.2 (CI 1.2–13.3) with vs. ratios. demonstrate subtle differences expression SCCA genes reflected course may provide target molecular grading tumors. If this finding can be confirmed larger study could useful individual selection treatment strategy cancer. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.