Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor as a Tumor Marker for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

• Published in: Tumor biology 2003-09, Vol.24 (5), p.236-240
• Main Authors: Kuropkat, C., Dünne, A.A., Plehn, S., Ossendorf, M., Herz, U., Renz, H., Werner, J.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - blood; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Head and Neck Neoplasms - blood; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor - blood; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Staging; Reference Values; Research Article; Tumors
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1159/000076138

It has been demonstrated that in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is significantly elevated in the serum compared to healthy individuals. Therefore, M-CSF has been suggested as a tumor marker in these malignancies. In the present study, the tumor marker potential of the serum M-CSF concentration in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) was investigated. The serum M-CSF concentration was determined by a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay in 59 patients suffering from SCCHN and 59 healthy controls. A significant difference in the mean serum concentration of M-CSF between the patients with SCCHN and the control group was found (p = 0.002). The M-CSF serum concentration correlated neither with the stage of disease nor with histopathological grading, and no correlation with serum C-reactive protein was found. The serum M-CSF concentration could be of interest as a tumor marker in SCCHN.