Predictive value of CYFRA 21-1, CEA, SCC-Ag and LDH in early stages of squamous cell lung cancer

Aim: The diagnostic methods used for evaluation of the stage and extent of the malignant process have to rather limited efficiency and low predictive value in the qualification of patients to surgical resection of tumor. The presented study provides assessment of the diagnostic usefulness of CYFRA 21-1 SCC-Ag, CEA and LDH, and their predictive value for estimation of overall survival in patients qualified to surgery on account of squamous cell lung cancer. Material: The determinations of CEA, SCC-Ag, CYFRA 21-1 concentration and LDH activity were performed in 99 patients qualified to surgery due to squamous cell lung cancer in different clinical stages of disease. In all patients, the index of weight loss as the ratio of actual to the standard body weight (WL index) and preoperative risk factors according to American Scale of Anaesthesiology (ASA index ) were assessed before treatment. Results: The concentrations of CYFRA 21-1 and LDH activity were found to be significantly higher in the group of patients with explorative thoracotomy in comparison to the operated, while there were no such differences in the concentrations of SCC-Ag and CEA. Stage of disease, tumour size, nodal status, ASA preoperative index, type of treatment, marker levels, were significantly associated with prognosis in squamous cell lung cancer patients. Conclusions: The results of CYFRA 21-1 contribute to the additional information regarding the assessment of disease stage, and may be helpful for qualification of patients for surgical treatment. CYFRA 21-1, apart from the stage of disease and ASA index, are independent prognostic factors in patients who were qualified to surgery due to squamous cell lung cancer.