Serum tissue factor as a biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma

Abstract

Purposeto determine the usefulness of serum TF as a potential marker for patients with clear cell RCC.Materials and Methodsprospective study of 30 patients with clear cell RCC submitted to nephrectomy and 16 controls without clear cell RCC treated surgically for other conditions. TF is a endothelium marker that was correlated with worse prognosis in a variety of solid tumors including RCC. Serum TF was collected before surgery at the operating room and in the postoperative setting after at least four weeks. Serum samples were analyzed with a commercial ELISA kit for human TF (R&D Systems®).ResultsMean preoperative serum TF levels in clear cell RCC patients and in controls were 66.8 pg/dL and 28.4 pg/dL, respectively (p<0.001). Mean postoperative serum TF levels in clear cell RCC patients were 26.3 pg/dL. In all patients with clear cell RCC postoperative serum levels of TF were lower, with a mean reduction of 41.6 pg/dL in the postoperative setting (p<0.001). Linear regression revealed that tumor size was correlated with the postoperative reduction of serum TF levels (p=0.037).ConclusionsWe have shown a 3-fold reduction in the median preoperative serum levels of TF in patients with clear cell RCC after surgery. We have also shown a difference of the same magnitude in the serum levels of TF compared with those of a control group of patients with benign diseases. TF appears to be a useful serum marker for the presence of clear cell RCC. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.

Renal tumor biomarkers (Review)

“…TF is also identified in immunohistochemical tests in Wilms' tumor and in clear cell carcinoma (33). However, Silva et al (34) researched whether the serum TF level can be used as a biomarker for RCC. The study included 30 patients with ccRCC and 16 controls with other pathologies, treated surgically.…”

“…Thus, those authors concluded that with each cm increase in tumor size, the value of TF increased approximately 4.7 pg/dl. Thus, the value of TF in the serum of patients with RCC can be used as a reliable biomarker, as it is correlated with tumor size (34).…”

Re: Serum tissue factor as biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma: a comment

“…We read the publication on “Serum tissue factor (TF) as a biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma”. Silva et al noted that “TF appears to be a useful serum marker for the presence of clear cell RCC ( 1 )”. Indeed, to conclude that TF is an important biomarker, there should be a complete evaluation on this diagnostic test.…”