Analytical assessment of the novel Maglumi squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) immunoluminometric assay

The generic terms of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) identifies two highly homologous proteins (i.e., SCCA1 and SCCA2), which are part of the family of serine protease inhibitors. Both proteins are encoded by two 1,711 bp long, tandemly arranged genes (SCCA1 and SCCA2) on chromosome 18q21.3 (1). SCCA is physiologically produced by the basal and parabasal layers of normal squamous epithelia, but its serum or plasma concentration is considerably enhanced in patients with various forms of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), especially in those with hepatocellular carcinoma (2), carcinoma of uterine cervix (3), lung carcinoma (4), esophageal cancer (5), breast carcinoma (6), head and neck SCC (7). Although the active role played by SCCA in cancer biology is still uncertain, recent evidence suggests that this protein may strongly impact cancer behaviour by promoting local invasion and metastatization (8)