The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between SCC Ag and the prognosis in cervical cancer patients following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

The charts of 116 patients following concurrent chemoradiotherapy among 330 patients diagnosed to cervical cancer at Yonsei University Medical Center from Jan. 1998 to June 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics (age, parity, body mass index), stage, lesion size, cell type, squamous cell subtype, initial SCC Ag (<1.5 and >or=1.5), posttreatment SCC Ag (<1.5 and >or=1.5) was evaluated with overall survival. Distribution of SCC Ag level before CCRT in relation to FIGO stage and failure pattern in SCC positive patients before CCRT were reviewed. Overall survival was estimated according to respectively, subgroups of initial SCC Ag, SCC Ag after 2nd CCRT and posttreatment SCC Ag. Chi square test and Kaplan Meier test were used for statistical analysis (P<0.05).

Overall survival was significantly correlated with only stage (P=0.0014). Two patients (15.4%) among 13 patients with recurrence had SCC Ag<1.5. Subgroups (1.5<or=SCC Ag<5 ng/m, 5 ng/mL<or=SCC Ag<30 ng/mL, 30 ng/mL<or=SCC Ag) of initial SCC Ag, SCC Ag after 2nd CCRT, and posttreatment SCC Ag were significantly correlated with overall survival (P=0.0337, 0.0001, 0.0446, respectively).

The measurements of the levels of initial SCC Ag, SCC Ag after 2nd CCRT and posttreatment SCC Ag are expected to be useful in predicting the prognosis of the patients with cervical cancer.