The Efficacy of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen in the Differential Diagnosis of Oral squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer of Oral Diagnosis, Oral Medicine, and Periodontology, Beni-Suef university, Egypt.

2 Oral Medicine and Periodontology Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine Cairo University

3 Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry Beni-Suef university, Egypt

4 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

Abstract

Abstract
Background and Objectives:
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major oral cancer representative. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (Scc-AG) is detected in squamous cell carcinoma of oral tissues and other different tissues. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with questionable malignant transformation.
Methods:
Forty-five participants divided into OSCC group and two control groups: oral lichen planus as an inflammatory disease (positive control) and healthy volunteers (negative control). Clinical staging and grading of OSCC was recorded. A double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the level of Scc-AG in serum and saliva.
Results:
Statistically significant difference for serum and salivary Scc-Ag, was found between the groups; OSCC, OLP on one hand and healthy controls on the other hand. No statistically significant difference was found between OSCC and OLP control groups in serum levels, while for salivary Scc-Ag a statistically significant difference was found between these two groups, with the higher values in OLP. Staging and grading in OSCC group were not found to be related to Scc-Ag level.
Conclusion:
Serum Scc-Ag cannot be used as a biomarker to differentiate between oral malignant and chronic inflammatory lesions. On the other hand, salivary Scc-Ag determination provides results more reliable than serum Scc-Ag and could be used in monitoring inflammatory oral disease activity as well as malignant conditions and could differentiate between them.

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