Yj. Ho et al., Tissue polypeptide specific antigen and squamous cell carcinoma antigen for early prediction of recurrence in lung squamous cell carcinoma, LUNG, 178(2), 2000, pp. 75-80
One of the major problems in the follow-up of patients with lung cancer is
the early detection of recurrent disease. Tumor markers have been found hel
pful in detecting early recurrent disease. The aims of this study were to e
valuate and compare the clinical usefulness of serial and simultaneous meas
urement of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SC
C) antigen for the early prediction of recurrence in patients with SCC of t
he lung. Sixty patients with SCC of the lung, including 25 patients with re
currence and 35 patients without recurrence after 1 year's follow-up after
surgery, were enrolled in this study. The serial serum levels of TPS and SC
C antigen were measured before surgery and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 mon
ths, 9 months, and 12 months after the operation for early detection of rec
urrence. The results revealed that (1) the mean serum values of TPS were si
gnificantly greater at all times after surgery in the 25 patients with recu
rrent SCC compared with the 35 patients without recurrent SCC, and (2) the
mean serum values of SCC antigen were significantly greater only at 9 and 1
2 months after surgery in the 25 patients with recurrent SCC compared with
the 35 patients without recurrent SCC. We conclude that TPS is a better mar
ker than SCC antigen for early prediction of SCC recurrence in the lung.