The SCC marker( squamous cell carcinoma antigen) is a substance present in the blood of patients with squamous cell carcinoma.
This substance is also in a healthy body, but in it, its quantity is minimal. The level rises only when new formations appear. Glycoprotein was first obtained from carcinoma of the cervix. Its peculiarity is that the increase in the level is noted also in the presence of other diseases, for example, psoriasis.
What does the SCC oncologist show?
Most often, when it increases, the doctor suggests the development of carcinomas:
- of the cervix,
- of the hearing organs,
- of the esophagus,
- of the nasopharynx.
It is formed in large quantities and with renal / hepatic insufficiency.
Antigen is part of the serine protease inhibitor system. Its amount depends on the stage of the disease, the parameters of education, the presence of metastases. The latter mainly appear in the lymphatic system.
Indications for
The assay is not performed for screening or in a primary study, so it is actively used by doctors to monitor the development of an already formed disease.
It is noted with non-invasive cancer that a rise in the level is found in 5-10% of women. While in patients with stage 3 it is elevated in 70%.
This substance allows to identify the cancer cells, to establish the multiplicity of tumor forms.
In some cases, the level of antigen is increased due to the onset of malignant cell disintegration on the background of therapy. Then, repeated activities take place about a month after the treatment.
To make an accurate diagnosis, oncologists in most cases prescribe analysis in combination with other methods.
How do I take a blood test?
Before the study it is recommended to visit the therapist to eliminate infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Diagnosis itself is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach. Experts recommend to refuse from acute and fatty food, and on the day of collecting blood for 30 minutes before the start of the procedure it is worth to give up smoking. For the study, blood from the vein( 5 ml) is taken.
SCC SCD
transcript The results of the study are usually ready within two days.
If women are prescribed primarily for the definition of cervical cancer, then in men, elevated values can talk about squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and other organs.
If an oncology is suspected, the antigen is determined every three months. This allows you to predict the course of the disease, if necessary, adjust the treatment.
The transcript is always performed only by a doctor. In this case, sensitivity in detecting lesions on the cervix is 10-54% in the early stages. Sensitivity in the diagnosis of recurrence is higher - 96%.
Normative values
The results are considered normal to 2.0-2.5 ng / l. In 5% of cases, the results are false-negative. In pregnant women and patients with bronchial asthma and liver failure this method of research is not used.
Normal indicators are if:
- oncomarker has not yet decreased,
- tumor does not synthesize this kind of antigen,
- has a positive dynamics from treatment.
However, remember that negative analysis is not a reason to talk about the lack of oncology
When is it increased?
It can be increased with the abovementioned non-tumor processes, therefore additional methods of investigation( ultrasound, biopsy, x-ray, etc.) are used for reliability.
If the indices are significantly increased, then it is not necessary to speak about benign formations.
With surgical removal of the tumor in the early days, this cancer marker is usually normal, so the following tests are performed two months later, then 6 months later. This approach helps prevent the development of relapses.
Cancer diagnoses are not made even with repeated positive results, as it can indicate the pregnancy of a woman, as well as when entering the biomaterial molecules of saliva or skin.
Women at risk should periodically be treated for prevention. Strongly overestimated indicators give a poor prognosis. Studies show that in patients with a marker above 10 ng / ml, the survival rate for five years is low.