Investigation of urinary transforming growth factor alpha levels as tumor markers in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The objective of this study was to determine whether transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) levels could be used as nonspecific tumor markers in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. Fourteen patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck were followed with serial urine TGF alpha levels, and the results were compared with the extent of cancer and the course of the disease. Based on the findings of this study further research is necessary before urine TGF levels can be recommended as a routine screening test for SCC of the head and neck.