Abstract
BACKGROUND: Globally, cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among females with 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths annually. It is a disease of public health importance. Detection of a tumour-specific antigen may be useful in the detection and early management of the disease. The squamous cell carcinoma antigen, a glycoprotein produced in squamous epithelial cells, could serve as a tumour marker in the diagnosis and management of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in women with cervical cancer with normal non-cancerous controls and to identify its clinical and sociodemographic correlates. METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study between women with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and women without cervical cancer at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Eighty women were recruited for the study, which consisted of 40 cases of cervical cancer and a comparative group of 40 women without cervical cancer. Levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 27. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in women with cervical cancer (0.7 ± 0.5 ng/ml) and those without cervical cancer (0.4 ± 0.2 ng/ml) (p = 0.0003). Using a cut-off value of 0.45, the sensitivity of SCCA was 75% while specificity was 70%. Its positive predictive value was71.4% while the negative predictive value was 73.7%. The stage of disease, parametrial involvement, metastasis, body mass index, age, parity, alcohol consumption and menopausal status did not significantly affect levels of the tumour marker. CONCLUSION: The serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen are elevated in Nigerian women with cervical cancer compared to those without cervical cancer. Sociodemographic factors and extent of disease do not appear to significantly affect levels of the tumour marker.