SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA ANTIGEN; SCCA

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA ANTIGEN (SCCA) REPRESENTS A SUB-FRACTION OF TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS RELATED TO SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (SCC). SCCA IS ELEVATED IN VARIETY OF SCCS, INCLUDING THOSE OF CERVIX, LUNG, SKIN, HEAD, NECK, DIGESTIVE TRACT, OVARIES AND UROGENITAL TRACT. HIGH PRETREATMENT SCCA CONCENTRATION APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PROGNOSIS. IT IS USEFUL IN DETECTING THE RECURRENCE OF THE CANCER AND IN MONITORING TREATMENT AND DISEASE PROGRESSION. IT MAY BE ELEVATED IN CERTAIN BENIGN CONDITIONS INCLUDING PULMONARY INFECTION, SKIN DISEASES, RENAL FAILURE AND LIVER DISEASE.