Value of Plasma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen-IgM Immune Complexes (SCCA-IgM IC) as a Novel Biomarker for Monitoring Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Background: Assessment of the levels of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen-IgM Immune Complexes (SCCA-IgM IC) as a serum biomarker to assess the prognosis and treatment outcome of HCC after locoregional treatment Aim of the work: Evaluation of plasma squamous cell carcinoma antigen-IgM immune complex (SCCA-IgM IC) level as a biomarker to predict response to treatment with radiofrequency ablation (RF) and/or trance arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC patients. Patients and methods: This study was conducted at the Internal Medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, during the period from July 2016 to November 2018 on 60 sequentially recruited patients with HCC undergoing locoregional treatment (RF and/or TACE). Patients were divided into two groups, Group A: 40 patients underwent TACE, Group B: 20 patients Underwent RF, all patients were followed up at 3 and 6 months post treatment. Patients who were excluded, those with HCC with late stage of the BCLC (Barcelona clinic liver cancer) staging system, patients with decompensated liver disease (Child-Pugh C), Hepato-renal syndrome or renal insufficiency, patients who had history of organ transplant or previously treated HCC. Results: SCCA IgM IC serum level was significantly lower in patients without recurrence post TACE than patients with HCC recurrence at 3 and 6 months post treatment. SCCA IgM IC showed promising results especially when combining with AFP in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response of HCC Conclusion: the use of SCCA IgM IC in combination with AFP serum level may prove to be useful in assessing prognosis of HCC locoregional treatment