Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Levels Research Articles

Efficacy of total laparoscopic hysterectomy without uterine manipulators in patient with early-stage cervical cancer

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) without uterine manipulator for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: This study was based on retrospective analysis of clinical data of 72 patients with early-stage cervical cancer who received TLH treatment in Meizhou People’s Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Of them, 40 patients underwent routine TLH (control group), and 32 patients received TLH without lifting the uterus using uterine manipulator (observation group). Changes in tumor marker levels, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, complications, and survival between two groups of patients were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). After the surgery, levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) in both groups of patients were significantly reduced compared to before the surgery, and significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group at one and two years after the surgery (P<0.05). After three years of postoperative follow-up, there was no significant difference in cumulative survival rates between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with conventional laparoscopy, hysteroscopy without the use of uterine manipulators can significantly reduce the levels of SCC-Ag, CEA, and CA-125 in patients with early-stage cervical cancer within two years after the surgery, without increasing postoperative complications or affecting survival, and has the same safety. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.10.10093 How to cite this: Chen Q, Chen Q, Yang H, Dai S. Efficacy of total laparoscopic hysterectomy without uterine manipulators in patient with early-stage cervical cancer. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(10):2428-2431. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.10.10093 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Preoperative scoring system for the prediction of risk of lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer

The study aimed to develop and validate a preoperative scoring system to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in cervical cancer (CC). A total of 426 stage IB1–IIA1 CC patients were randomly divided into two sets. A logistic regression model was used to determine independent factors that contribute to LNM. A preoperative scoring system was developed based on beta (β) coefficients. An area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was used to test for model discrimination. Five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 91.7%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that FIGO stage, tumor size, depth of invasion on MRI, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels were independent risk factors in the development set (all P < 0.05). The AUCs of the scoring system for the development and validation sets were 0.833 (95% CI = 0.757–0.909) and 0.767 (95% CI = 0.634–0.891), respectively. Patients who scored 0–2, 3–5, and 6–8 were classified into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups. Predicted rates were in accord with observed rates in both sets. The 5-year OS rates of the new groups were also significantly different for the entire group, development set, and validation set (all P < 0.05). LNM affects the prognosis of CC patients. The scoring system can be used to assist in evaluating the risk of LNM in CC patients preoperatively. It is easy to obtain and can provide reference for clinical treatment decision-making.

Blood biomarkers to predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy has increased the number of patients with advanced lung cancer eligible for surgery. However, only a small number of such patients respond to this approach. Intensive research is being conducted to identify biomarkers to predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. Among these, blood predictive biomarkers are particularly promising, and have the advantages of being both non-invasive and cost effective. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of blood biomarkers in determining the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), addressing a critical need for more personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice. We retrospectively collected the data of 199 NSCLC patients who received neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023, at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. We then analyzed the performance of blood biomarkers in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. The patients in the major pathological response (MPR) group had significantly higher pre-treatment squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) levels, and a significantly lower post-treatment platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) than those in the non-MPR group. For patients with higher pre-treatment SCCA levels, the 1- and 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rates were 97.87% [95% confidence interval (CI): 94.99-100.00%] and 93.21% (95% CI: 84.32-100.00%), respectively. In those with lower pre-treatment SCCA levels, the 1- and 2-year EFS rates were 91.39% (95% CI: 84.93-98.35%) and 82.24% (95% CI: 72.42-93.39%), respectively. The survival analysis showed that higher pre-treatment SCCA levels were correlated with improved EFS (P=0.02) in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. Conversely, for patients undergoing surgery alone, high pre-treatment SCCA levels were correlated with a poorer prognosis [disease-free survival (DFS), P=0.001]. These findings confirm the value of SCCA levels in predicting which patients will have a more favorable response to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. In patients receiving neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, a high post-treatment PLR indicated a poorer prognosis (P=0.02). The Cox regression analysis indicated that the pre-treatment SCCA level (P=0.04) and post-treatment PLR (P=0.04) were independent predictive factors of EFS. In patients receiving neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, high pre-treatment SCCA levels and low post-treatment PLRs were significantly associated with better efficacy and survival. Thus, these biomarkers could be used to guide the choice of treatment modalities.

Serum levels of stearic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids can be used to diagnose cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Despite widespread cervical cancer (CC) screening programs, low participation has led to high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in developing countries. Because early-stage CC often has no symptoms, a non-invasive and convenient diagnostic method is needed to improve disease detection. In this study, we developed a new approach for differentiating both CC and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2/3, a precancerous lesion, from healthy individuals by exploring CC fatty acid metabolic reprogramming. Analysis of public datasets suggested that various fatty acid metabolizing enzymes were expressed at higher levels in CC tissues than in normal tissues. Correspondingly, 11 free fatty acids (FFAs) showed significantly different serum levels in CC patient samples compared with healthy donor samples. Nine of these 11 FFAs also displayed significant alterations in CIN2/3 patients. We then generated diagnostic models using combinations of these FFAs, with the optimal model including stearic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that this diagnostic model could detect CC and CIN2/3 more accurately than using serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen level. In addition, the diagnostic model using FFAs was able to detect patients regardless of clinical stage or histological type. Overall, the serum FFA diagnostic model developed in this study could be a powerful new tool for the non-invasive early detection of CC and CIN2/3.

Weekly Image Guidance in Patients With Cervical Cancer Treated With Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy: Results of a Large Cohort Study.

Image guidance is recommended for patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for cervical cancer. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a weekly image guidance pattern and analyzed the long-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients. The study enrolled patients with Stage IB-IVA cervical cancer who received definitive radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. IMRT was delivered at a dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions, with weekly cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Physicians advised patients on rectum and bladder preparation to help them prepare on nonimaging guidance days. When significant tumor regression was observed, a second computed tomography simulation and replanning were performed. The median follow-up periods were 63.4 months. The incidence rates of loco-regional and distant failure were 9.9% and 13.6%. The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), loco-regional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates were 80.1%, 72.9%, 78.3%, and 74.8%, respectively. For patients with different stages, the 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were statistically significant. For patients with and without positive regional lymph nodes, the 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were 64.5% and 86.0%, 56.8% and 78.8%, 62.7% and 84.3%, and 58.8% and 81.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age, histology, tumor size, cancer stage, pretreatment squamous cell carcinoma antigen level, and para-aortic metastatic lymph nodes were independent prognostic factors of OS. Fifty-six (4.0%) patients experienced late Grade 3/4 chronic toxicities. IMRT with weekly CBCT is an acceptable image guidance strategy in countries with limited medical resources.

Nomograms to predict tumor regression grade (TRG) and ypTNM staging in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy

BackgroundNeoadjuvant therapy (NT) has increased survival rates for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC), but estimating the impact of NT treatment prior to surgery is still very difficult.MethodsA retrospective study of the clinical information of 150 patients with locally advanced EC who got NT at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between June 2018 and June 2023. Patients were randomized into training and internal validation groups at a 3:1 ratio. Furthermore, an external validation cohort comprised 38 patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy at Qianfoshan Hospital in the Shandong Province between June 2021 and June 2023. Independent risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression (forward stepwise regression). Predictive models and dynamic web nomograms were developed by integrating these risk factors.ResultsA total of 188 patients with locally advanced EC were enrolled, of whom 118 achieved stage I of neoadjuvant pathologic TNM (ypTNM) after receiving NT and 129 achieved grades 0-1 in the tumor regression grade (TRG). Logistic regression analysis identified five independent predictors of TRG grades 0-1: pulmonary function tests (PFT), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), triglyceride (TG) levels, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels, and combination immunotherapy. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the training, internal validation, and external validation groups were 0.87, 0.75, and 0.80, respectively. Meanwhile, two independent predictors of stage I of ypTNM were identified: prealbumin (PA) and SCC antigen. The areas under the ROC curves for the training, internal validation, and external validation groups were 0.78, 0.67, and 0.70, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test for both predictive models showed excellent calibration, with well-fitted calibration curves. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curves (CIC) have demonstrated that nomograms are of clinical utility.ConclusionThe nomograms performed well in predicting the likelihood of stage I of ypTNM and TRG grade 0-1 after NT in patients with locally advanced EC. It helps thoracic surgeons to predict the sensitivity of patients to NT before surgery, which enables precise treatment of patients with locally advanced EC.

Prognostic value of HPV circulating tumor DNA detection and quantification in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Cervical cancers are mainly caused by an oncogenic HPV. For locally advanced stages, the standard treatment is radio-chemotherapy (RTCT) followed by brachytherapy. Nevertheless, the prognosis remains highly heterogeneous between patients. We investigated the prognostic value of HPV circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in locally advanced cervical cancers alongside that of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCC-A). This single-center retrospective study included patients treated in curative intent for an IB3 to IVA squamous cell cervical cancer. Quantification of HPV ctDNA in serum collected at diagnosis was performed using a multiplex digital PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of 8 HPV genotypes. Among the 97 patients included, 76 patients (78.4%) were treated by RTCT, followed by brachytherapy for 57 patients (60%). HPV ctDNA was detected in 59/97 patients at diagnosis (60.8%). This detection was associated with lymph node invasion (p=0.04) but not with tumor stage. A high level of SCC-A at diagnosis was associated with tumor stage (p=0.008) and lymph node invasion (p=0.012). In univariate analysis, better disease-free survival (DFS) was associated with optimal RTCT regimen (p=0.002), exposure to brachytherapy (p=0.0001) and a low SCC-A at diagnosis (continuous analysis, p=0.002). Exploratory analysis revealed that 3/3 patients (100%) whose HPV ctDNA was still detectable at the end of treatment relapsed, while 6/22 patients (27.3%) whose HPV ctDNA was negative at the end of treatment relapsed. HPV ctDNA detection at diagnosis of locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinomas is frequent and related to node invasion, but not to DFS. The prognostic value of HPV ctDNA detection after treatment warrants specific studies.

Role of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in the management of carcinoma cervix in an Indian population: A pilot study

BackgroundEarly detection of recurrence in carcinoma cervix can be challenging but has the potential to improve survival in a subset of patients. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) has been tested in multiple roles in the management of cervical cancer but the evidence from India is limited. MethodsThis was a prospective, cohort pilot study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in central India. Study subjects were patients with locally advanced carcinoma cervix treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy between June 2017 and May 2018. All patients underwent pre and post-treatment SCC-Ag testing which was continued serially every 3 months for a total follow-up of 24 months. A cut-off value of 1.5 ng/ml or more was used to define a positive test. Chi–Square tests, Pearson's correlation testing and Kaplan Meier plots were used to study the association of different patient and tumour variables with the SCC-Ag levels. Test validity of serial measurements of SCC-Ag was also measured for detection of recurrence. ResultsA total of 45 patients were included. SCC-Ag levels were strongly correlated with tumour stage and presence of lymph nodal metastases. Post-treatment abnormal SCC-Ag levels were significantly associated with a poorer recurrence-free survival (RFS). Serial measurement of SCC-Ag levels proved to be a good screening tool for early detection of recurrences even before clinical symptoms or signs developed with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91.8%. ConclusionOur study has highlighted the benefits of the use of this tumour marker in the management of cervical cancer and has generated useful evidence supporting its use in prognosticating patients, guiding investigations, determining risk for recurrence, assessing tumour response and for early detection of recurrences.

The value of plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in predicting the response and prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients to concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: In recent years, abnormalities in plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) have been proven to be related to the risk of cancer, but their prognostic value for cancer is unclear. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the response and prognostic significance of plasma omega-3 PUFAs in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between omega-3 PUFAs and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels. Methods: A total of 89 patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT were evaluated retrospectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent predictors related to complete response (CR) after CCRT. A Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were utilized to perform survival analysis. Results: According to multivariate logistic regression analyses, a high level of plasma EPA was independently correlated with an increased incidence of CR after CCRT (odds ratio (OR), 0.980; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.962-0.999, p = 0.038). With a median follow-up of 41.3months, the CSCC patients in the high EPA (≥46.0nmol/mL) group exhibited longer OS and PFS. According to our multivariate analysis, pretreatment plasma EPA level was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT (hazard ratio (HR), 0.263; 95% CI, 0.089-0.782, p = 0.016). However, it was not an independent prognostic factor of OS. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed was a negative correlation between pretreatment SCC-Ag (pre SCC-Ag) levels and EPA levels (r = -0.305, p = 0.004), and a weak negative correlation between posttreatment SCC-Ag (post SCC-Ag) levels and EPA levels (r = -0.251, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Plasma omega-3 PUFAs are related to the response and survival outcome of patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT. Pretreatment plasma EPA levels may be a promising biomarker for predicting the response and prognosis of patients with CSCC who undergo CCRT. In addition, the pretreatment plasma EPA levels presented a negative correlation with the SCC-Ag levels.

Prospective Analysis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen-1 and -2 for Diagnosing Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma.

Background: The goal of this research was to confirm whether preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA)-1 and -2 levels are useful diagnostic markers for sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) in a prospective study. Methods: Participants were 102 patients who underwent consecutive endoscopic sinus surgery: 18 with IP, two with other types of papilloma, 77 with chronic rhinosinusitis, four with sinonasal cancer, and one with hemangioma. SCCA-1 and SCCA-2 were measured preoperatively by an automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: SCCA-1 and SCCA-2 values were significantly correlated (r = 0.603, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis for differentiating papilloma (IP and other types of papilloma) from other diseases yielded an area under the curve of 0.860, with a Youden index of 1.75. Combined with SCCA-2 analysis, the detection system had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.65 and 0.98, respectively. While our study did not find a strong link between SCCA levels and skin or lung diseases, smoking status may influence SCCA levels in IP patients (p = 0.035). We recommend a cutoff value of 1.8 ng/mL for SCCA-1 in IP diagnosis. Conclusions: SCCA-1 and SCCA-2 when combined with imaging and pathology hold promise for enhancing the preoperative detection of IP, which would be a valuable contribution to clinical practice.

Clinical Significance of Serum SCC Levels Before Treatment for Locally Advanced Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Although serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen values are known to be useful in predicting the prognosis of cervical SCC, they have only been examined in a cursory manner. This study aimed to meticulously investigate the clinical significance of serum SCC antigen levels in patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSC). The study included patients who were diagnosed with local stage (T-stage) 1b3/2/3 LACSC and underwent initial treatment at our institute between January 2006 and December 2016 (T-1b3: n=30; T-2: n=75; T-3: n=34). The patients were divided into three groups based on pre-treatment SCC values, and differences in clinical background, laboratory and pathology findings, and prognosis were examined. No significant difference in the SCC distribution was observed among the T-1b3/2/3 cases with elevated SCC levels. In stages T-1b3, T-2, and T-3, most recurrences in the SCC-High group were distant (T-1b3: three out of five recurrences; T-2: six out of seven recurrences; T-3: four out of eight recurrences), while most recurrences in the SCC-Low group were pelvic (T-1b3: two out of three recurrences; T-2: eight out of eight recurrences; T-3: three out of three recurrences). In LACSC, serum SCC antigen levels before treatment correlate strongly with the recurrence site. Patients with low levels should be closely monitored for local recurrence, whereas those with high levels warrant vigilance for distant recurrence.

Prognostic analysis of stage IIIC1p cervical cancer patients.

Stage IIIC1p cervical cancer is characterized by marked heterogeneity and considerable variability in the postoperative prognosis. This study aimed to identify the clinical and pathological characteristics affecting the survival of patients diagnosed with stage IIIC1p cervical cancer. We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with stage IIIC1p cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection between March 2012 and March 2022. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate prognostic factors for OS and forest plots were used to visualize these findings. Nomogram charts were created to forecast survival rates at 3 and 5 years, and the accuracy of predictions was evaluated using Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves. The study cohort comprised 186 women diagnosed with stage IIIC1p cervical cancer. The median follow-up duration was 51.1 months (range, 30-91 months), and the estimated 5-year OS rate was 71.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed that concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy (CCRT + AC), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), ratio of lymph node metastasis (LNM), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) levels independently predicted OS. Significant prognostic disparities exist among patients diagnosed with stage IIIC1p cervical cancer. MLR, ratio of LNM, and SCCA were associated with poor OS. In contrast, the CCRT + AC treatment regimen appeared to confer a survival advantage.

Integrated pretreatment diffusion kurtosis imaging and serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels: a biomarker strategy for early assessment of radiotherapy outcomes in cervical cancer.

This study aims to explore the utility of pretreatment DKI parameters and serum SCC-Ag in evaluating the early therapeutic response of cervical cancer to radiotherapy. A total of 33 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer, including 31 cases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and two cases of adenosquamous carcinoma, participated in the study. All patients underwent conventional MRI and DKI scans on a 3T magnetic resonance scanner before radiotherapy and after ten sessions of radiotherapy. The therapeutic response was evaluated based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Patients were categorized into a response group (RG), comprising Complete Remission (CR) and Partial Remission (PR), and a non-response group (NRG), comprising Stable Disease (SD) and Progressive Disease (PD). LASSO was employed to select pretreatment DKI parameters, and ROC curves were generated for the selected parameters and serum SCC-Ag. Significant differences were observed in pretreatment MD, Da, Dr, MK, Ka, Kr, and SCC-Ag between the RG and NRG groups (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were noted for FA and FAK (P = 0.441&0.928). The two selected parameters (MD and MK) demonstrated area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.810, 0.769, 0.850 and 0.827, 0.846, 0.750, respectively. The combination of MD and MK exhibited an improved AUC of 0.901, sensitivity of 0.692, and specificity of 1.000, with a higher Youden index compared to the individual parameters. Conversely, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the combination of MD, MK, and SCC-Ag were 0.852, 0.615, and 1.000, with a Youden index of 0.615. Pretreatment MD, MK, and SCC-Ag demonstrate potential clinical utility, with the combined application of MD and MK showing enhanced efficacy in assessing the early therapeutic response of cervical cancer to radiotherapy. The addition of SCC-Ag did not contribute further to the assessment efficacy.

Sandwich-Like Electrochemical Immunosensing of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene and Toluidine Blue/UIO-66-NH2

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is an important biomarker in the diagnose of cancer, so developing effective methods for its detection is of great significance. In the present work, a novel sandwich-like electrochemical immunosensing assay (STEM) of SCCA was constructed by preparing gold nanoparticle/reduced graphene-oxide (Au NPs/rGO) to immobilize primary antibody (PAb) of SCCA and UIO-66-NH2 MOFs structure to immobilize second antibody (SAb) and electroactive toluidine blue (Tb) probe. In this designed STEM assay, the prepared Au NPs/rGO nanohybrid offers the advantages in large surface area and conductivity as carrier, and UIO-66-NH2 provided an ideal platform to accommodate SAb and a large number of Tb molecules as signal amplifier. In the existence of SCCA, the current peaks of Tb from the formed STEM structure increase with the increase of SCCA level. After optimizing the related control factors, a wide linear range (0.01 pg ml−1 and 15.0 ng ml−1) and very low detection limit (0.003 pg ml−1) of SCCA was achieved, it’s thus expected the designed STEM strategy has important applications for the detection of SCCA.

Observations of the effectiveness, dosage, and prognosis of intensity-modulated radiation therapy under ultrasonic guidance for cervical cancer patients.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) guided by ultrasound is a novel radiation therapy technique that facilitates the delineation of the tumor target area under image guidance, enhancing the precision of radiation therapy and maximizing the protection of surrounding tissues. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of VMAT under ultrasonic guidance for cervical cancer patients and its impact on radiotherapy dosage and prognosis. A retrospective analysis encompassed 128 instances of cervical cancer patients who were admitted to our medical facility between April 2019 and April 2021. The patients were categorized into an observation cohort and a control cohort, depending on variations in treatment modalities post-admission. The control group underwent conventional radiotherapy, whereas the observation group received VMAT guided by ultrasound. Clinical efficacy, average radiation dosages (in the radiotherapy target area, rectum, and bladder), radiotherapy-related toxicities during treatment, and one-year survival rates were compared between the two groups. Additionally, variances in pre- and post-treatment serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) were subjected to assessment. When compared to the control group (64.52%), the observation cohort's comprehensive effectiveness rate was considerably greater (80.30%). The observation group saw lower average radiation exposures and a reduction in the post-treatment concentrations of CEA, SCC-Ag, and CA724. The overall incidence of adverse effects from radiation treatment also declined. The observation group had a greater one-year survival rate (90.48%) than the control group (73.33%). When comparing the observation cohort to the control group, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly higher one-year survival rate (Log-Rank = 6.530, P= 0.011). VMAT guided by ultrasound for patients with cervical cancer demonstrates promising short- and long-term treatment outcomes. It also leads to improvements in serum CEA, SCC-Ag, and CA724 levels, as well as reductions in the average radiation dosages to the radiotherapy target area, rectum, and bladder. This approach warrants attention from clinicians in clinical practice.

Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen level and magnetic resonance imaging for the prognosis of locally advanced cervical cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-ag) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were explored to serve as biomarkers to predict the prognosis of cervical cancer (CC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prior to radical surgery, with the aim of identifying the subgroup that least benefits from the combined therapy. All patients were treated with NACT prior to radical surgery and received MRI and SCC-ag examinations before and after NACT. For these three cycles of NACT, patients were treated with intravenous paclitaxel at 150 mg/m2 over a period of 3 hours and carboplatin, with the area under the sera concentration-time curve of 5 over a period of 30 minutes on the first day of each cycle. Meanwhile, the blood pressure, ECG, and blood oxygen saturation of the patients were observed during the infusion. A discovery cohort and a validation cohort were applied to examine the prognostic performance of SCC-ag, MRI, and their combination. The endpoints of our study were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 384 patients diagnosed between August 2006 and December 2010 were enrolled in our research, with 206 patients in the discovery cohort and 178 patients in the validation cohort. The high-risk group identified by MRI had a worse OS [hazard ratio (HR), 3.567; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.466-8.677; log-rank p=0.0027) and PFS (HR, 4.062; 95% CI, 2.171-7.6; log-rank p<0.0001) than the low-risk group. Meanwhile, the SCC-RC could serve as a strong prognostic factor to predict OS (HR, 5.614; 95% CI, 2.473-12.744; log-rank p<0.0001) and PFS (HR, 7.481; 95% CI, 4.194-13.344; log-rank p<0.0001) for CC. In addition, the combined MRI and SCC-ag had greater prognostic efficiency and were used to divide the whole patient population into three groups. Compared with patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group had a worse OS (HR, 8.216; 95% CI, 2.98-22.651; log-rank p<0.0001) and PFS (HR, 11.757; 95% CI, 5.735-24.104; log-rank p<0.0001). Multivariate analyses revealed that MRI, SCC-ag, and their combination were independent prognostic factors. SCC-ag and MRI, individually or in combination, were bound up with OS and PFS in CC. Additionally, the predictive efficiency improved when SCC-ag and MRI were combined in a risk model that predicted the OS and PFS of SCC compared with the predictive efficiency of either SCC-ag or MRI alone, revealing that the combination of these two biomarkers could help to ameliorate prognostic stratification and to guide personalized therapy for SCC patients.

Prognostic evaluation of relapse based on squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CXCR2, and CD44V6 blood levels in patients with Stage I–II squamous cell lung cancer

Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, predominantly exists as non-small cell lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of cases and comprising adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell carcinoma as the three most prevalent histological subtypes. This study focused on investigating pre- and post-operative concentrations of SCC antigen in blood serum, as well as the percentage of CXCR2-containing lymphocytes and CD44v6-containing monocytes in blood cell populations among patients with Stages I&amp;ndash;II squamous cell lung cancer (SCLC) within 1 year after tumor resection. The primary objective was to assess their potential for predicting relapse. The study cohort comprised 57 patients (32 men and 25 women) with newly diagnosed squamous cell lung cancer (21 at stage I and 36 at stage II). Following tumor resection, categorized as R0 in terms of surgical intervention, all parameters were examined before surgery and at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Analysis revealed that the probability of relapse could be accurately predicted, ranging from 68.4% to 89.5%, based on differences in SCC antigen concentration, the percentage of lymphocytes with CXCR2, and monocytes with the CD44v6 receptor during various post-operative intervals. Subsequent regression analysis and the formulation of a combined model incorporating the above-mentioned parameters led to an enhanced predictive value for tumor recurrence, reaching 96.5% accuracy (with specificity at 95.6% and sensitivity at 100%). These results indicate the potential utility of the combined model as an additional marker for predicting postoperative relapse in patients with Stage I&amp;ndash;II SCLC.

Re-irradiation for recurrent cervical cancer: A single institutional experience

PurposeSalvage treatment of recurrent cervical cancer of patients with a history of radiotherapy is currently a major clinical challenge. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively analyze clinical outcomes of radiation in patients with recurrent cancer who have previously received radiotherapy at our hospital and further explore the efficacy and safety of this treatment modality. MethodsAll consecutive patients who underwent re-irradiation were included in our department between January 2015 and December 2017. All the patients received Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) alone or VMAT followed by three dimensional–image-guided brachytherapy (3D-IGBT). The volume and dose for re-irradiation depended on previous radiation fields, dosimetry and recurrence sites. All patients received systemic chemotherapy before or after re-irradiation. ResultsFifty patients were included in our study. The median time from primary radiotherapy to re-irradiation was 12 months. Local recurrence, which was the most common failure following primary treatment, was present in 25 patients (50.0 %) while regional recurrence, loco-regional recurrence and distant recurrence combined in-filed recurrence was present in 8 (16.0 %), 9 (18.0 %) and 8 patients (16.0 %). Re-irradiation dose to lymph nodes was 45 Gy with or without a boost up to 55–60 Gy, and to the gross mass was 36–45 Gy with or without a boost up to 45–61 Gy. The median follow-up period was 22 (range,4–59) months. The 3-year local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were 58.0, 38.7, and 44.4 %, respectively. The median time of PFS and OS was 14 and 26 months, respectively. The interval between two successive radiotherapies beyond 12 months was significantly associated with better LC and PFS (p ≤ 0.05), but without the benefit of OS (p > 0.05). Serum SCC antigen level less than 1.5 ng/ml had a significantly better impact on PFS (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, 14 patients (28 %) experienced ≥ grade 3 acute toxicities, while 9 (18 %) experienced ≥ grade 3 late toxicities. ConclusionsRe-irradiation with VMAT is an effective and safe salvage treatment option with a reasonably good clinical outcome and toxicity profile in selected patients. In our experience, recurrent cancer patients with an interval between two successive radiotherapy courses beyond 12 months and with a serum SCC-Ag level less than 1.5 ng/ml, had improved outcomes.

Impact of anti-squamous cell carcinoma antigen antibodies on serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.

The serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) level is a well-known tumor marker for squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, we examined the impact of immunoglobulin (Ig)-bound macromolecular SCCA on serum SCCA levels measured by 2 different methods. Seventy-five serum samples with an SCCA level >5.0 ng/mL as determined by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) were also analyzed using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). The levels of IgG- and IgA-type anti-SCCA antibodies, which form immunoglobulins and macromolecules, respectively, were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An absorption test was performed to confirm the presence of anti-SCCA antibodies. The correlation coefficient between the values measured by CLEIA and CLIA was 0.768. The ratio of SCCA levels measured by CLEIA to those measured by CLIA in 14 samples with IgG-type anti-SCCA antibodies was significantly lower than that in samples without these antibodies (P < .031). Absorption tests showed that SCCA levels measured by CLIA might be falsely high in samples with IgG-type anti-SCCA antibodies, probably due to reactions with SCCA1. The level of SCCA as measured by CLIA and CLEIA methods correlate well, but the presence of SCCA antibodies can affect the results of the CLIA method.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of Xihuang Pills/capsules in adjuvant treatment of uterine cervical neoplasms.

Xihuang Pills/Capsules have a longstanding history of utilization in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating cancer. Nevertheless, a comprehensive investigation is required regarding the specific impacts and safety of Xihuang Pills/Capsules in individuals with uterine cervical neoplasms. Thus, conducting a meta-analysis is essential to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of combining Xihuang Pills/Capsules with Western medicine in patients with cervical neoplasms. The research involved searching 5 English and 4 Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of Xihuang Pills/Capsules in conjunction with Western medicine for treating uterine cervical neoplasms. Subsequently, statistical analysis was carried out using Review Manager software (version 5.3). This research encompassed 10 RCTs involving 937 patients. The findings revealed that the combination of Xihuang Pills/Capsules with Western medicine treatment led to improvements in various aspects of the patients' condition. Specifically, there was an enhancement in the short-term efficacy rate (risk ratio [RR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.22, P = .0003), Karnofsky performance score (KPS) (mean difference [MD] = 5.90, 95% CI: 0.54-11.26, P = .03), survival rates, CD3+, CD3 + CD4+, CD3 + CD8+, CD3-CD56 + cells, and immunoglobulin M in patients with uterine cervical neoplasms. Moreover, the combination treatment resulted in a reduction of adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal reactions (RR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.42-0.64, P < .00001), radiation proctitis (RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.33-0.68, P < .0001), myelosuppression (RR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26-0.64, P < .0001), as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels. Additionally, the treatment exhibited an inhibitory effect on white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets (PLTs). The amalgamation of Xihuang Pills/Capsules with conventional anti-tumor therapy proves to be both effective and safe in the treatment of cervical neoplasms. However, further validation through high-quality RCTs is necessary to substantiate these findings.