Oncomarkers are substances produced by the body during tumor development. The name "tumor markers" is also used. Most of all known tumor markers have high sensitivity. To identify certain diseases, for example, carcinomas of the ear, nasopharynx, esophagus, lungs and cervix in women, a test is performed during which a squamous cell carcinoma antigen, SCC, is released. In this article we will consider it in more detail.
What it is?
SCC tumor markers are glycoproteins. They are synthesized in cells of squamous organs. SCC tumor marker is a proteinaceous substance that changes the structure of normal cells, leading to the penetration of protein through their membrane.
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is a member of the serine proteinase inhibitor family. The amount of antigen in the blood varies depending on the stage of the disease and the size of the tumor. If prior to treatment the level of concentration in the blood of markers was high, the prognosis is less favorable than in the case of lower indicators.
The number of tumor markers in the blood is directly related to the degree of development of the disease, therefore, according to these data, it is possible to accurately determine the stage of cancer. A blood test for tumor markers cannot be performed for the purpose of screening studies and for primary diagnosis, only to monitor the development of an existing disease.
What information do SCC tumor markers provide?
The cancer marker test 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 the transformation of healthy cells into cancer cells at the earliest stage of the disease.
In what cases is an analysis carried out?
To make a diagnosis of 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. SCC tumor markers are used by specialists to identify the disease, to track its progression and control its development.
The test using the tumor marker is advisable to conduct in relation to persons at risk of developing malignant tumors. It allows you to accurately diagnose. During the treatment, the antigen in the blood often grows, which is caused by the decay of the malignant formation, as a result of which atypical bodies enter the bloodstream. For the veracity of the data, reanalysis after 4 weeks is recommended. During some inflammatory diseases, it is also possible to increase the concentration of antigen in the blood, for example, with tuberculosis, bronchitis, acute respiratory infections, some skin diseases.
What is the test done for?
Test for SCC tumor marker is carried out:
- To exclude the spread of metastasis to other organs with the progression of the disease.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Disease control after treatment to avoid relapse.
Preparation for a laboratory test
In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, the specialist must take into account all the concomitant factors and exclude possible inflammatory diseases.
Special conditions for the analysis are not required. Blood is donated to the SCC tumor marker in the morning, on an empty stomach, the day before the analysis, the patient is advised to refuse fatty, fried and spicy foods. On the day of analysis, 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 5 ml of blood from a vein from a patient.
Deciphering the results
Quite often, at the first stages of development, malignant tumors do not make themselves felt. Therefore, a timely blood test for the presence of antigens in the blood increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
In a healthy 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 indicator may be higher. Then a blood test should be repeated after three weeks.
The number of tumor markers 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 the patient's condition worsens.
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 in the blood, the amount of antigen in the region of 1.5 ng / ml is detected. In the case of a study in women suffering from cervical cancer and the detection of an increased level of antigen, one can say with confidence about the relapse of the disease.
Tumor of the cervix. SCC for squamous cell carcinoma
Today, not only women over the age of 40 suffer from cervical cancer, the disease began to develop in young girls up to thirty years of age. Cervical cancer is a very insidious disease, so timely treatment allows a woman to maintain reproductive organs.
For a correct diagnosis of the disease, the attending physician must take into account all the concomitant factors, including the period of blood sampling and the correctness of its storage. The test for tumor markers has a very high sensitivity, therefore, the purity of the collected material is also important. A small amount of saliva or sweat can lead to contamination of biological material, and this, in turn, to the unreliability of the analysis.
To make a woman diagnosed with cervical cancer, the necessary studies are carried out for tumor markers. A blood count of 2.5 ng / ml for the SCC tumor marker is normal.
Cervical cancer is in its infancy if a concentration of more than 2.5 ng / ml is detected. For accuracy, the test is repeated after 20 days. Quite often there is a permissible excess of the SCC tumor marker in the patient’s blood, associated with a disease along the way.
The importance of timely diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the cervix
Conducting research on the presence of tumor markers for cranes is important for the following reasons:
- Oncological diseases of the organs of the reproductive system of women reduce fertility.
- This study makes it possible to identify women at risk and monitor treatment effectiveness.
At the third stage of the disease, the amount of antigens exceeds the norm three times. As additional tests, the doctor prescribes computed tomography, as well as an analysis of urine and blood.
With somatic pathology, it is also likely that tumor markers of SCC squamous cell carcinoma will be detected. In such cases, a dynamic study is necessary, and for this, in addition to the standard analysis for tumor markers, a
histological examination of the damaged tissues of the diseased organ is carried out.
The number of tumor markers changes in case of metastases. Their number is also affected by the size of the tumor, its location and the degree of tissue damage by cancer cells.
A variety of tumor markers
Each type of tumor identifies its unique markers, which are used to determine a particular type of cancer:
- Cancer-embryonic antigen (acceptable level is 3 ng / ml) - is determined to diagnose colorectal carcinoma in conjunction with SCC for cervical carcinoma.
- Alpha-fetoprotein (acceptable level is less than 15 ng / ml) is a highly sensitive antigen that is used for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Gastric cancer antigen (acceptable level is less than 4 units / ml) is used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for gastric carcinoma.
- Mucin-like glycoprotein (acceptable level is less than 28 units / ml) - most often this marker is used to track the result after treatment of malignant breast formation.
- CA 19-9 (acceptable level is less than 37 units / ml) - a marker for determining pancreatic carcinoma.
- The SCC tumor marker (the norm does not exceed 2.5 ng / ml) is used to monitor the results of the therapy for carcinoma of the cervix, nasopharynx, ear, and lung.
- CA 125 (acceptable level is less than 35 units / ml) is used to control the course of the disease and the treatment for testicular carcinoma.
- NSE (acceptable level is less than 12 ng / ml) is used to diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of the therapy of small cell lung carcinoma.
- HCG (permissible level in men is 0-5 IU / ml) with increased results in men and non-pregnant women indicates the presence of a malignant tumor.
- A fragment of cytokeratin-19 (acceptable level is less than 3.2 ng / ml) is effectively used for small cell lung carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
- A specific prostatic antigen (acceptable level is less than 4.0 ng / ml) is effectively used to diagnose prostate carcinoma.
The importance of diagnosing the disease at an early stage
In order to avoid the tragic consequences and to protect yourself as much as possible from the development of malignant cancer, 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 started will save the quality of life, avoid the development of complications and the spread of metastases. Therefore, the most informative is a blood test for tumor markers SCC, which effectively determines cell transformation in the very initial stages of cancer.