[SCC antigen to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region].

No effective tumor markers are available for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region with the exception of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP). Recently, TA-4 was developed by Kato et al. as a marker of uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, squamous cell carcinoma related antigen (SCC antigen) was isolated from the tissue of liver metastasis of this carcinoma, and a RIA Kit using the double-antibody technique with antisera to this antigen has been developed. The cut-off value of SCC antigen has been reported to be 2.0ng /ml. In our study, the SCC antigen level was more than 2.1ng/ml in 69(50.7%) of 136 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The antigen was positive in 24(36.9%) of 65 patients with early carcinoma (stage I or II) and in 45(63.3%) of 71 patients with advanced carcinoma (stage III or IV). Among patients with early carcinoma, it was positive in 17(40.4%) of 42 with well differentiated, 6(42.9%) of 14 with moderately differentiated, and 1(11.1%) of 9 with poorly differentiated carcinomas of those with advanced carcinoma, it was positive in 12(66.7%) of 18 with well differentiated, 25(78.1%) of 32 with moderately differentiated, and 8(38.9%) of 21 with poorly differentiated carcinomas. The antigen was positive in 8(80%) of 10 patients with carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and in 7(87.5%) of 8 patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Both of them are difficult to detect, and SCC antigen is considered to be useful in screening for detection of these tumors.