The predictive value of measurement of SUVmax and SCC-antigen in patients with pretreatment of primary squamous cell carcinoma of cervix

Objective: Use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen (SCC-ag) as predictors for poor prognosis of pretreatment of primary SCC of cervix. Methods: The distribution of cases that scored positive for each of the biological parameters examined was correlated with maximum SUV (SUVmax) of PET/CT and serum SCC-ag for 52 participants prior to radiotherapy (RT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT) with pretreatment of primary SCC of cervix. Results: There were significant correlations between the SUVmax of the primary tumor and tumor maximum size (P = 0.027), and the lymph node metastasis (P = 0.039). The serum SCC-ag had a statistically significant association with the clinicopathological parameters such as FIGO stage (P = 0.045) and tumor maximum size (P = 0.008), although there was no correlation noted between the SUVmax of the primary tumor and the serum SCC-ag (R = 0.155). The high SUVmax of the primary tumor (? 15.6) plus lymph node metastasis (a short-axis diameter of over 10 mm with a SUVmax ? 3.5) were significant predictors for poor prognosis when compared with the low SUVmax of the primary tumor (< 15.6) or the high SUVmax of the primary tumor plus negative lymph node metastasis (a short-axis diameter of under 10 mm or SUVmax < 3.5) (overall survival rate; P = 0.0211). Conclusions: The present findings indicate that the high SUVmax of the primary tumor plus lymph node metastasis with pretreatment of primary SCC of cervix may be associated with a poor prognosis.