Follow-up with serum Cyfra 21-1 in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE

Finding tumor markers for disease progression, and especially development of distant metastases, is desirable for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Elevated serum levels of Cyfra 21-1 (cytokeratin fraction 21-1) have been frequently associated with disease progression in patients with lung cancer. In SCCHN, Cyfra 21-1 has not been established as a routine tumor marker yet, probably due to difficulties in finding the appropriate cut-off for the serum level. The aim of this study was to investigate whether assessment of changes in serum Cyfra 21-1 over time can predict distant metastases in patients with SCCHN, without attempting to establish an arbitrary cut-off for abnormal levels.

METHODS

Cyfra 21-1 serum levels of 25 patients with SCCHN and distant metastases were evaluated by means of an ELISA test kit.

RESULTS

There was a wide range of Cyfra 21-1 serum levels at the time of primary diagnosis, without correlation with tumor size, lymph node status, time to recurrence, or presence of distant metastases. All patients had a clear increase of Cyfra 21-1 levels which preceded the appearance of distant metastases clinically.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the wide range of Cyfra 21-1 levels at the time of primary tumor diagnosis, Cyfra-21-1 is neither a suitable screening marker for SCCHN, nor for diagnosis of distant metastases at the time of initial diagnosis of the tumor, but is of evident prognostic value for follow-up, especially for early detection of distant metastases.