Diagnostic value of heat shock protein 90α and squamous cell carcinoma antigen in detection of cervical cancer

Objective To ascertain plasma levels of heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90 alpha) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and their diagnostic potential in cervical cancer. Methods In a cross-sectional study, patients' cervical tissue samples were screened for high risk (HR) human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA and underwent a thinprep-liquid based cytology test (TCT). Plasma samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HSP90 alpha and SCC-Ag levels. Results Of the 295 women who underwent screening, 75 were healthy controls 75 (HR-HPV-ve TCT-ve), 110 were HR-HPV+ve, TCT-ve and 110 were HR-HPV+ve TCT+ve. There were significant differences between levels of HSP90 alpha and SCC-Ag proteins across the patient groups with those positive for cervical cancer having the greatest levels of proteins compared with other groups. For patients with high grade SCC there was a significant correlation between levels of HSP90 alpha and SCC-Ag. The area under the ROC curve for combined HSP90 alpha*SCC-Ag was the largest compared with the single proteins. Using a cut-off value of 16.4 ng/ml to delineate cervical cancer diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity of HSP90 alpha*SCC-Ag were 90.3% and 95.1% respectively. Conclusion Plasma HSP90 alpha protein levels correlated well with SCC-Ag levels in patients with cervical cancer and the combination of HSP90 alpha*SCC-Ag may be a useful diagnostic biomarker.