Clinical Prospects of Serum DR-70 Level in Assisting the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Tongue Carcinoma

Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the tumor marker DR-70 in a group of patients with tongue cancer. Methods:DR-70 levels were determined using enzyme immunoassay techniques. Serum DR-70 in 52 patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma were tested and compared with a group of 40 healthy controls and another group of 42 patients with various benign masses in tongue. DR-70 levels in sera of cancer patients were monitored for three years with an aim to evaluate their prognostic values. All data were analyzed by the statistical software of Egret and EPI-Info. Results: Positive rate of tongue carcinoma (75%) was significantly higher than that of normal control individuals (10%) and benign tumor groups (7.5%). DR-70 level in serum significantly correlated with 3-year survival rates. Conclusions:We suggest a potential role of DR-70 as tumor marker for tongue squamous cell carcinomas.