[SCC antigen: a sensitive and specific tumor marker for squamous cell carcinoma?].

The diagnostic value of serum concentrations of squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was evaluated on 48 untreated patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung or oro-maxillo-facial region. To test for specificity SCC antigen was also looked for in 55 patients with various other epithelial neoplasms, in 18 with inflammatory lung disease, and in 43 with liver and 34 with renal function abnormalities. The sensitivity rate of SCC antigen in squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung was 53%, in carcinoma of the oromaxillofacial region 34%. Both groups differed significantly from all other groups, except for patients with abnormal renal function more than half of whom had raised serum concentrations. The proportion of false-positive SCC values was 11% each for patient with inflammatory lung disease and other epithelial neoplasias, and 7% for patients with abnormal liver function. SCC is not a specific marker for squamous-cell carcinoma. Its clinical value probably lies mainly in monitoring the course of such tumours.