Tumor Markers and Lymphatic Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the lymph node status and tumor marker status in patients with histologically confirmed head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: 134 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. 33/134 were classified as N0 and 101/134 as N+. The wall of the lymph node was ruptured by the metastasis in 70/134 patients (poor prognosis). We analyzed the sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryotic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA 21-1 in the total population and in the subgroups. Results: We observed elevated SCC levels in 21.6%, CEA levels in 23.9% and CYFRA 21-1 levels in 50.0% of all patients. If there was no lymphatic metastasis, the SCC sensitivity was 15.1%, the CEA sensitivity was 21.2% and the CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity was 36.4%. Lymph node-positive disease had increased SCC levels in 23.8% of the patients, increased CEA levels in 24.8% and increased CYFRA 21-1 levels in 54.5%. The subgroup of patients with ruptured lymph nodes had the following sensitivities: SCC 18.6% CEA 8.6%, and CYFRA 21-1 50.0%. Conclusion: No significant relationship between the lymph node metastasis and the elevation of tumor markers in patients with advanced head and neck cancer was found.