Background/aim: Tumor-related and inflammation-related markers were reported to be prognostic in cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) simultaneously in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.
Patients and methods: Two hundred and forty-six newly diagnosed OSCC patients were retrospectively recruited between December 2010 and December 2016.
Results: The elevation of CRP levels (≥5.0 mg/l) and SCC-Ag levels (≥2.0 ng/ml) were significantly related with tumor invasion parameters and metastatic factors. In contrast, the elevation of CYFRA 21-1 levels (≥3.3 ng/ml) was related with extranodal extension alone. For patients with all three markers being elevated before surgery, their overall survival and disease-free survival were significantly worse than others.
Conclusion: Concurrent elevation of preoperative SCC-Ag, CYFRA 21-1 and CRP serum levels can be correlated with worse survival rates in OSCC.
Keywords: C-reactive protein; CYFRA 21-1; Oral cavity; SCC antigen; prognosis; squamous cell carcinoma.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.