Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma: Ready for the prime time?

摘要: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and third cause deaths. The leading predisposing condition represented by an underlying viral hepatitis, mainly sustained hepatitis B C viruses. Since cumulative risk developing HCC can be as high 30-fold in patients with infectious cirrhosis, a timely diagnosis necessary for establishing appropriate treatment these patients. armamentarium diagnostic prognostic biomarkers currently entails alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) limited number innovative biomarkers, among which squamous cell antigen (SCCA) its immune complexes are widely investigated. clinical data published so far reviewed this article seemingly suggest that neither total serum SSCA or isoform 1 (i.e., SCCA1) may ready prime time management HCC. More interesting evidence has emerged from studies investigating values SCCA-IgM, since performance biomarker was found to frequently superior AFP and, even more importantly, combination SCCA-IgM characterized much better sensitivity than either alone, only modest decrease specificity. Larger needed before preliminary findings generalized, but combined use represents appealing perspective prognostication