SERUM LEVELS OF SCC, CEA, CA-125 AND TPA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CERVICAL-CARCINOMA

Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryoni c antigen (CEA), CA 125 and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were seri ally determined in 116 patients with cervical carcinoma. Serum levels of SCC or TPA levels were elevated in the 12 patients with residual tu mour after primary therapy. In patients who were clinically in complet e remission, SCC and TPA levels were elevated in 7/69 and 5/70 patient s, respectively. Three of the 7 with positive SCC and 4 of the 5 patie nts with positive TPA levels had a recurrence during follow-up. Elevat ed levels of SCC or CA 125 or TPA preceded the clinical detection of r ecurrence in 13 of 18 patients (median time was 7 months for SCC and 6 months for CA 125 and TPA).