Tumour markers and their prognostic value in adenocarcinoma of the cervix

Ninety-one patients with adenocarcinoma of the cervix had 4 tumour markers (TMs) assayed before treatment. Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) (n = 91) was raised in 25%; tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) (n = 78) was raised in 35%; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (n = 34) was raised in 26% an d CA 125 (n = 64) was raised in 27% of these patients. In 47 of these 91 pa tients (52%), 1 or more of the markers were raised. The percentage of patie nts with raised TM increased with advancing stage. Univariate survival anal ysis showed that age, stage, raised TPA, raised CA 125, and raised TMs (any one or more) were of prognostic significance. When multivariate analysis w as done and each TM was individually analysed, only age, stage and raised C A 125 were of prognostic significance. Rising SCC or TPA or CA 125 levels i n serial estimations correlated well with the occurrence of recurrence. Thu s, pretreatment estimation of SCC, TPA and CA 125 can be used to identify t he patients who can subsequently be monitored by serial TM estimation.