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Sedimentation rate and serum thymidine kinase activity: Prognostic factors in squamous cell head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Fontana Xavier,
Dassonville Olivier,
Néri Joël,
Vallicioni Jacques,
Santini José,
Milano GéRard,
Combon Pierre,
Lapalus Françoise,
Demard François
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.2880150510
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , oncology , pathology , biology , paleontology
Identification of prognostic factors in squamous cell head and neck cancers involves analysis of highly diverse clinical and biological parameters. This study analyzed the prognostic value of clinical variables (age, sex, tumor site, stage) and biologic parameters (squamous cell carcinoma antigen [SCC], serum thymidine kinase activity [TK], fibrin, sedimentation rate [SR]) at the time of diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx) in 189 patients. Among the clinical variables investigated, UICC stage III–IV disease ( p < .0002), a hypopharyngeal site ( p < .02), and age over 60 years ( p < .01) were all associated with a poor prognosis. Similarly, analysis of biological blood variables allowed definition of cut‐off values above which the prognosis was poor: SCC 2.5 ng/mL ( p < .01), fibrin 3.5 g/L ( p < .01), TK 7 IU/L ( p < .0005), and SR 15 mm per first hour ( p < .0000). Cox regression analysis of overall survival identified the UICC stage ( p < .000), the SR ( p < .001), and serum TK ( p < .02) as the main independent prognostic factors. A separate study on a small number of head and neck cancer patients revealed higher TK levels in malignant squamous cell carcinoma tissue than in adjacent healthy tissue.