Overexpression of MPS antigens by squamous cell carcinomas of the head andneck: Immunohistochemical and serological correlation with FDG positron emission tomography

Survival from advanced primary or recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) o f the head and neck (H&N) is poor. More accurate detection of primary tumor s and recurrence may provide ways to improve survival. No standard serum tu mor marker is routinely used for surveillance of SCC-H&N. In this paper, we evaluated the performance characteristics of the MPS-H tumor marker test f or the quantitative measurement of "MPS-H" heat-generated immunoreactive pr oteins and assessed the clinical utility of this marker in the detection an d monitoring of SCC-H&N. In approximately 92% of the subjects having no evi dence of SCC-H&N, the MPS-H levels were lower than 15 ng/mL. In 76% of pati ents having SCC-H&N at,various stages (T1-T4), the MPS-H level was > 15 ng/ mL (range: 20-200 ng/mL). In addition, we found a statistically significant correlation between PET positive cases and high MPS-H serum levels in SCC- H&N patients with recurrent disease. These results suggest that MPS-H may p rovide an initial screening test that would allow for selective PET imaging in these patients. Furthermore, we found that there was greater expression of MPS-1 in tumors of higher histological grades. Thus, in tumors with mor e histological agressiveness there is mom MPS-1, indicating the potential u sefulness of this marker in prognosis for. SSC-H&N. Considering the immunoh istochemical, serological, and FDC-PET data presented here, and the compell ing need to expedite the early diagnosis of primary and recurrent epithelia l malignancies of the head and neck, we are further evaluating the system o f MPS antigens in a large patient population as a tool for the early serolo gic and histologic diagnosis of SCC-H&N.