Abstract
Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma related antigen (TA-4) were measured by a RIA KIT in 34 patients with head and neck cancer. Eight of 13 patients (62%) with untreated head and neck cancer showed positive serum TA-4 levels, while only one of 10 control cases (10%) showed false-positive results. All patients with advanced stages (III and IV) showed detectable antigen levels. Five of 35 samples (14%) with treated cancer and 12 of 17 samples (71%) with recurrence were positive for the antigen. High pretreatment antigen levels declined to undetectable levels after surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy. The findings suggest that TA-4 is a good tumor marker for cancer of the head and neck, specially for squamous cell carcinoma.
