Utility of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels at the time of recurrent cervical cancer diagnosis in determining the optimal treatment choice

Objective: To investigate the utility of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels upon the diagnosis of recurrent cervical cancer for decision making in patient management.

Methods: Clinical records from 167 cervical cancer patients who developed recurrence between April 1996 and September 2010 were reviewed. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to investigate the prognostic significance of serum SCC-Ag levels at the time of recurrence. The effects of various salvage treatments on survival outcomes of recurrent cervical cancer were examined with respect to serum SCC-Ag levels.

Results: Serum SCC-Ag levels were elevated (>2.0 ng/mL) in 125 patients (75%) when recurrence was diagnosed. These patients exhibited significantly shorter postrecurrence survival than those with normal SCC-Ag levels (log-rank; p=0.033). Multivariate analyses revealed that an elevated serum SCC-Ag level was an independent prognostic factor for poor postrecurrence survival. In patients with SCC-Ag levels <14.0 ng/mL, radiotherapy or surgery resulted in improved survival compared with chemotherapy or supportive care. In contrast, in patients with SCC-Ag levels of ≥14.0 ng/mL, salvage treatment with radiotherapy had only a minimal impact on postrecurrence survival.

Conclusion: The serum SCC-Ag level measured when cervical cancer recurrence is diagnosed can be useful for deciding upon the appropriate salvage treatment.