Oncomarkers are substances produced by the body during tumor development. The name "tumor markers" is also used. Most of all known tumor markers are highly sensitive. To detect certain diseases, for example, carcinomas of the ear, nasopharynx, esophagus, lungs and cervix in women, a test is performed during which the squamous cell carcinoma antigen - SCC is isolated. In this article, we will look at it in more detail.
What is this?
SCC tumor markers are glycoproteins. They are synthesized in the cells of the squamous epithelium of organs. SCC tumor marker is a protein substance that changes the structure of normal cells, leading to the penetration of the protein through their membrane.
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen belongs to the family of serine proteinase inhibitors. The amount of antigen in the blood varies depending on the stage of the disease and the size of the tumor. In case beforethe beginning of treatment, the level of concentration in the blood of markers was high, the prognosis is less favorable than in the case of lower levels.
The number of tumor markers in the blood is directly related to the degree of development of the disease, so these data can accurately determine the stage of cancer. A blood test for tumor markers cannot be carried out for the purpose of screening studies and for primary diagnosis, only to track the development of an existing disease.
What information do SCC tumor markers give?
The test for tumor markers is by far the most effective in the fight against cancer. Its content and amount in the blood provide a complete picture of the course of the disease, including the stage. At the same time, tumor markers make it possible to determine the process of degeneration of he althy cells into cancer cells at the earliest stage of the disease.
When is analysis performed?
To diagnose cancer, doctors prescribe an analysis for the SCC tumor marker in combination with other methods for determining severe pathologies in the body. As a rule, the examination takes a long time. Specialists use SCC tumor markers to detect the disease, to track its progression and control its development.
It is advisable to carry out a test using a tumor marker in relation to persons at risk of developing malignant tumors. It allows you to make an accurate diagnosis. During treatment, an increase in antigen in the blood often occurs, whichcaused by the decay of a malignant formation, as a result of which atypical bodies enter the bloodstream. For the veracity of the data, it is recommended to re-analyze after 4 weeks. During some inflammatory diseases, an increase in the concentration of the antigen in the blood is also possible, for example, with tuberculosis, bronchitis, acute respiratory infections, and some skin diseases.
What is the test for?
Test for SCC tumor marker is carried out:
- To prevent the spread of metastases to other organs as the disease progresses.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Control disease after treatment to prevent relapse.
Preparation for laboratory testing
In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, the specialist must take into account all concomitant factors and exclude possible inflammatory diseases.
Special conditions for passing the analysis are not required. Blood for the SCC tumor marker is taken in the morning, on an empty stomach, the day before the analysis, the patient is advised to give up fatty, fried and spicy foods. On the day of the test, you should not smoke half an hour before blood sampling, as well as drink tea and coffee. To carry out a laboratory test, a nurse takes blood from a patient from a vein in a volume of 5 milliliters.
Deciphering the results obtained
Quite often, at the first stages of development, malignant formations do not make themselves felt. Therefore, a timely blood test for the presence of antigens in the blood increasesprobability of a favorable outcome.
In a he althy person, the amount of antigen in the blood does not exceed the norm of 2.5 ng/ml. However, in the case of recent inflammatory diseases, this figure may be higher. Then the blood test should be repeated in three weeks.
The number of oncomarkers determined in the blood helps to select patients who are supposed to undergo radiation or surgical therapy, as well as adjust treatment in the absence of positive results or a deterioration in the patient's condition.
The SCC tumor marker (decoding is presented in the article) allows diagnosing cancer of the esophagus, nasopharynx, ear and lungs in men. With cancer of the esophagus and lungs, the amount of antigen in the region of 1.5 ng / ml is detected in the blood. In the case of a study in women suffering from cervical cancer, and the detection of an increased level of antigen, it is safe to say about the recurrence of the disease.
Cervical cancer marker. SCC in squamous cell carcinoma
Today, not only women over the age of 40 suffer from cervical cancer, the disease has also begun to develop in young girls up to thirty years old. Cervical cancer is a very insidious disease, so timely treatment allows a woman to save her reproductive organs.
For the correct diagnosis of the disease, the attending physician must take into account all related factors, including the timing of blood sampling and the correct storage of blood. The test for tumor markers is very sensitive, so purity is also important.taken material. A small amount of saliva or sweat can lead to contamination of biological material, and this, in turn, to the unreliability of the analysis.
For a woman to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, the necessary studies are carried out for tumor markers. In a blood test, an indicator of 2.5 ng / ml for the oncomarker SCC is the norm. Cervical cancer is at the initial stage in case of detection of a concentration of more than 2.5 ng / ml. For the accuracy of the data, the test is repeated after 20 days. Quite often there is an acceptable excess of the oncomarker SCC in the patient's blood, associated with a concomitant disease.
Importance of timely diagnosis of cervical cancer
Testing for the presence of tumor markers is important for the following reasons:
- Oncological diseases of the female reproductive system reduce the birth rate.
- This study makes it possible to identify women at risk and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
At the third stage of the disease, the number of antigens exceeds the norm three times. As additional tests, the doctor prescribes computed tomography, as well as urine and blood tests.
With somatic pathology, it is also likely that tumor markers of SCC squamous cell carcinoma will be detected. In such cases, it is necessary to study in dynamics, and for this, in addition to the standard analysis for oncomarkersa histological examination of the damaged tissues of the diseased organ is being carried out.
The number of tumor markers changes in case of metastases. Also, their number is affected by the size of the tumor, its location and the degree of tissue damage by cancer cells.
Tumor marker type
Each type of tumor produces its own unique markers, which are used to identify a particular type of cancer:
- Cancerous-embryonic antigen (allowable level - 3 ng / ml) - determined for the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma in conjunction with SCC in cervical carcinoma.
- Alpha-fetoprotein (allowable level - less than 15 ng / ml) is a highly sensitive antigen that is used for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Gastric cancer antigen (allowable level - less than 4 units/ml) is used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for gastric carcinoma.
- Mucin-Like Glycoprotein (allowable level is less than 28 U/mL) – This marker is most commonly used to track outcome after breast cancer treatment.
- CA 19-9 (permissible level - less than 37 units / ml) - a marker for the detection of pancreatic carcinoma.
- The oncomarker SCC (the norm does not exceed 2.5 ng / ml) is used to monitor the results of ongoing therapy for carcinoma of the cervix, nasopharynx, ear, and lungs.
- CA 125 (allowable level - less than 35 units / ml) is used to control the course of the disease and ongoing treatment for testicular carcinoma.
- NSE(allowable level - less than 12 ng / ml) is used to diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of ongoing therapy for small cell lung carcinoma.
- hCG (allowable level in men - 0-5 IU / ml) with increased results in men and non-pregnant women indicates the presence of a malignant tumor.
- Cytokeratin-19 fragment (allowable level is less than 3.2 ng/ml) is effectively used in small cell lung carcinoma and squamous cell lung carcinoma.
- Prostate specific antigen (allowable level is less than 4.0 ng/mL) is effectively used to diagnose prostate carcinoma.
Importance of diagnosing the disease at an early stage
In order to avoid tragic consequences and protect yourself as much as possible from the development of malignant cancers, it is important to consult a doctor in time in case of any physical ailments, and especially if there were cases of cancer in the family.
Diagnosis of the disease at an early stage and timely treatment will help maintain the quality of life, avoid the development of complications and the spread of metastases. Therefore, the most informative is a blood test for SCC tumor markers, which effectively determines cellular transformation at the very initial stages of cancer.
