Risk Stratification in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Preoperative CRP and SCC Antigen Levels

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) level and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be associated with tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, staging and survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationship between preoperative levels of both SCC-Ag and CRP, with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in OSCC patients. A retrospective study was performed on 142 OSCC patients between March 2008 and March 2011. Their serum SCC-Ag and CRP levels were measured preoperatively. SCC-Ag level of ≥2.0 ng/ml and CRP level ≥5.0 mg/L were significantly associated with pathologic tumor status (P