Significantly higher serum tumor marker levels in patients with oral submucous fibrosis

Abstract

Background/purpose Our previous study showed that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC–Ag), and ferritin are significantly higher in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs including oral leukoplakia, oral erythroleukoplakia, and oral verrucous hyperplasia) than in healthy controls (HCs). Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is also recognized as an OPMD. This study evaluated whether these three serum tumor marker levels were also significantly higher in OSF patients than in HCs. Materials and methods The serum CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin levels in 41 OSF patients and 164 HCs were measured and compared. Patients with serum CEA level ≥3 ng/mL, SCC-Ag level ≥2 ng/mL, and ferritin level ≥250 ng/mL were scored as serum positive for CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin, respectively. Results We found significantly higher mean serum CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin levels in 41 OSF patients than in 164 HCs (all P -values < 0.05). Moreover, 41 OSF patients had significantly higher serum positive rates of CEA (39.0%), SCC-Ag (19.5%), and ferritin (53.7%) than 164 HCs (all P -values < 0.05). Of the 41 OSF patients, 26 (63.4%), 7 (17.1%), and 2 (4.9%) had serum positivities of one, two, or three tumor markers including CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin, respectively. Conclusion There are significantly higher mean serum CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin levels and significantly higher serum positive rates of CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin in OSF patients than in HCs. The serum CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin levels may be served as tumor markers for evaluation of malignant potential of OSF lesions.

Preliminary Evaluation Salivary Biomarkers in Patients with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD): A Case–Control Study

“…In relation to OPMD, we observed statistical differences in ferritin and total proteins versus the control group. This is consistent with the findings of Wu et al [37,38], who recorded significantly higher levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and ferritin in the serum of patients with oral precancer than in the healthy controls. Thus, serum CEA, SCC-Ag and ferritin may represent potential tumor markers for the detection of patients with oral precancerous lesions [37,38].…”

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Anticancer Decoction Combined with Basic Chemotherapy and Nursing Intervention on Oral Cancer Patients after Surgery and Its Effect on Tumor Markers and Immune Function

“…Studies have shown that the blood levels of tumor markers are significantly higher in patients with malignant tumors than in healthy individuals [ 43 ].CEA is a glycoprotein located on the cell surface and is synthesized in early fetal life by the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas, and in adults, the epithelial tissue of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver and pancreas can also synthesize small amounts of CEA and secrete it into the digestive tract at low levels under normal conditions [ 44 ]. There have been many studies on CEA as a marker of oral and maxillofacial malignancies [ 45 , 46 ]. CEA has been found to be highly expressed in tumor tissues of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck [ 47 ].…”

Significantly higher serum levels and positive rates of tumor biomarkers in patients with oral lichen planus

“…Based on our previous associated studies, patients with serum CEA level ≥3 ng/mL, SCC-Ag level ≥2 ng/mL, and ferritin level ≥250 ng/mL were scored as serum positive for CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin, respectively. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 …”

“… 19 , 20 Elevated serum SCC-Ag level and high serum SCC-Ag-positivity have also been found in oral cancer and oral precancer patients. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 In addition, the serum ferritin represents the level of iron stored in human bodies, and many studies found that combination of serum ferritin and other biomarkers might be of great value in diagnosing some human cancers, including oral cancers. 25 , 26 Therefore, considering the potential of malignant transformation of OLP, we aimed to evaluate the serum levels of CEA, SCC-Ag, and ferritin in OLP patients and to assess whether there were significantly higher serum levels and positive rates of these three tumor biomarkers in OLP patients than in healthy control subjects in this study.…”