Intratumor C-reactive protein as a biomarker of prognosis in localized renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Serum C-reactive protein has been shown to have prognostic value in localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, the prognostic value of intratumor C-reactive protein remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients with resected, clinically localized (T1-T4N0M0) clear cell renal cell carcinoma were followed postoperatively. Intratumor C-reactive protein expression was assessed in surgical specimens using immunohistochemical analysis. Patients were categorized by staining intensity into low risk (staining 0 to 1), intermediate risk (staining 2) and high risk (staining 3) groups. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to examine overall survival across patient and disease characteristics. Variables examined in multivariate Cox regression analysis included T stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade, tumor size, preoperative serum C-reactive protein and intratumor C-reactive protein staining. RESULTS: Followup extended up to 46 months with a mean (SD) of 29.8 (11.0) months. Twelve patients (12.6%) died during followup. Of all tumors 49.5%, 25.3% and 25.3% were graded by intratumor C-reactive protein staining as low risk (0 to 1), intermediate risk (2) and high risk (3), respectively. After controlling for variables significant on univariate analysis, patients in the high risk (3) group experienced a 27-fold increased risk of overall mortality compared to those in the low risk (0-1) group (HR 27.767, 95% CI 1.488-518.182). After adjusting for tumor staining, preoperative serum C-reactive protein was not a significant predictor of overall survival (p = 0.741). CONCLUSIONS: Intratumor C-reactive protein may be a robust biomarker of prognosis in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma.

Absolute preoperative C-reactive protein predicts metastasis and mortality in the first year following potentially curative nephrectomy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: C-reactive protein is an inflammatory biomarker associated with tumor burden and metastasis in renal cell carcinoma. Recent studies suggest that preoperative C-reactive protein predicts metastasis and mortality after nephrectomy for localized renal cell carcinoma. However, these studies dichotomized C-reactive protein (typically 10 mg/l or greater vs less than 10 mg/l). Considering the continuous range of C-reactive protein (less than 1 mg/l to greater than 100 mg/l) we assessed the ability of absolute preoperative C-reactive protein to predict metastases and mortality as a continuous variable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with clinically localized (T1-T3N0M0) clear cell renal cell carcinoma were followed for 1 year postoperatively. Metastases were identified radiologically and mortality was determined by death certificate. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses examined 1-year relapse-free survival and overall relative survival across patient and disease characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 130 patients in this study metastases developed in 24.6% and 10.8% of the patients died. Mean (SD) preoperative C-reactive protein for patients in whom metastases did and did not develop was 89.17 (74.17) and 9.16 (30.62) mg/l, respectively. Mean preoperative C-reactive protein for patients who did and did not die was 102.61 (77.32) and 19.52 (46.10) mg/l, respectively. On multivariate analysis SSIGN score (p <0.001) and preoperative C-reactive protein (B 0.027, SE 0.003, p <0.001) were significant predictors of relapse-free survival, and preoperative platelets (p = 0.009) and preoperative C-reactive protein (B 0.011, SE 0.008, p <0.001) were significant predictors of overall relative survival. CONCLUSIONS: Absolute preoperative C-reactive protein is a robust predictor of metastasis and mortality after nephrectomy for localized renal cell carcinoma. Clinicians should consider absolute preoperative C-reactive protein to identify high risk patients for closer surveillance or additional therapy. In addition, predictive algorithms and models of metastasis should consider incorporating C-reactive protein as a continuous variable to maximize predictive ability.

cAMP-responsive element-binding protein regulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression: implication in human prostate cancer bone metastasis.

Aberrant expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with human prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis and poor clinical outcome. We found that both phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and VEGF levels were significantly elevated in patient bone metastatic PCa specimens. A PCa ARCaP progression model demonstrating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition exhibited increased CREB phosphorylation and VEGF expression as ARCaP cells became progressively more mesenchymal and bone-metastatic. Activation of CREB induced, whereas inhibition of CREB blocked, VEGF expression in ARCaP cells. CREB may regulate VEGF transcription via a hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent mechanism in normoxic conditions. Activation of CREB signaling is involved in the coordinated regulation of VEGF and may pre-dispose to PCa bone metastasis.

Diagnosis of renal cancer by molecular urinalysis.

BACKGROUND: Organ-confined renal malignancies can be cured in the majority of patients, whereas more extensive lesions have a poor prognosis. We sought to develop a noninvasive test for renal cancer detection based on a novel molecular approach. METHODS: Matched urine and serum DNA samples were obtained before surgery from 30 patients with clinically organ-confined solid renal masses (25 with malignant tumors and five with tumors of low malignant potential) and were subjected to microsatellite analysis. Serum samples and urine samples obtained from 16 individuals without clinical evidence of genitourinary malignancy served as controls. RESULTS: Nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients with malignant tumors were found to have one or more microsatellite DNA alterations in their urine specimen, and 15 (60%) were found to have alterations in their serum DNA by microsatellite analysis. In every case, the microsatellite changes in urine or serum were identical to those found in the primary tumor. Three of five patients with tumors of low malignant potential were found to have DNA alterations in their urine, but none displayed alterations in their serum. Moreover, microsatellite alterations were not identified in either the urine or the serum samples from normal control subjects and patients with hematuria due to nephrolithiasis (renal stones). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that microsatellite DNA analysis of urine specimens provides a potentially valuable tool for the early detection of resectable kidney cancer. Furthermore, microsatellite analysis of serum samples reveals evidence of circulating tumor-specific DNA in approximately half of these patients and may reflect the propensity of these tumors to spread to distant sites at an early stage.

Specific genetic change in tumors associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Previous reports showed that the loss of DNA sequences on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) is consistently found in sporadic renal cell carcinomas. To evaluate the significance of this genetic change, we looked for the loss of 3p alleles in hereditary renal cell carcinomas and other tumors from patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. Specific loss of alleles from chromosome 3p was detected with polymorphic DNA markers in 11 renal cell carcinomas, one pheochromocytoma, two spinal hemangioblastomas and one cerebellar hemangioblastoma from von Hippel-Lindau patients. Multiple renal cell carcinomas in individuals with von Hippel-Lindau disease showed loss of the same chromosome 3p alleles, which demonstrated that the same chromosome was deleted in each tumor. Analysis of haplotypes indicated that the loss of chromosome 3p alleles was from the chromosome bearing the balancing, wild-type allele of the VHL gene. These results are consistent with the concept that the VHL gene is a recessive oncogene. Renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and spinal and cerebellar hemangioblastomas develop in predisposed family members when somatic mutational events lead to loss of chromosome 3p sequences bearing the wild-type allele of the VHL gene.

High-density mapping of chromosomal arm 1q in renal collecting duct carcinoma: region of minimal deletion at 1q32.1-32.2.

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney is a rare malignant neoplasm of distal nephron origin. Previous studies of CDC have shown loss of heterozygosity on chromosomal arm 1q in 57% of the cases studied. To better characterize 1q loss in CDC, we performed high-density mapping of the entire long arm of chromosome 1 in 13 CDC tumor samples. We observed complete deletion of chromosomal arm 1q in 5 samples and partial deletion in 4 additional tumors. Our study further showed that the region of minimal deletion is located at 1q32.1-32.2. Sixty-nine percent (9 of 13) of the tumors showed loss of heterozygosity in this area. These data suggest that a gene or group of genes that contribute to the development of distal nephron tumors may be located within the 1q32.1-32.2 region.

Cadherin-6, a cell adhesion molecule specifically expressed in the proximal renal tubule and renal cell carcinoma.

Cadherins are a family of calcium-dependent, cell-cell adhesion molecules that play an important morphoregulatory role in a wide variety of tissues. Alterations in cadherin function have been implicated in tumor progression in a number of adenocarcinomas. Despite the increasing number of new cadherins identified, little is known about cadherins in normal renal tissue and renal carcinomas. A novel cadherin transcript, cadherin-6, was recently described to be present in renal cancer cell lines and fetal kidney, but no data on protein expression nor tissue localization has been reported. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression of cadherin-6 is restricted to the proximal tubule epithelium. This finding is critical because these cells give rise to the majority of neoplasms of this organ. Furthermore we demonstrate typical cadherin features of cadherin-6, including cytoplasmic binding to alpha- and beta-catenin. We present data of cadherin-6 expression in a series of 32 primary renal cell cancers. Cadherin-6 expression tended to vary with histology in these samples. Whereas the majority of renal cell cancers with histology-associated poor prognosis (i.e., high grade clear cell carcinomas and sarcomatoid renal tumors) show aberrant expression of cadherin-6, in tumors with a favorable prognosis (i.e., low grade clear cell carcinomas and papillary cancers), normal cadherin-6 expression was predominant. Overall, these findings demonstrate specific expression of cadherin-6 in the proximal renal tubules in normal human kidney and suggest that alterations of cadherin-6 expression are associated with progression of renal cell carcinoma.

High efficiency gene transfer into primary human tumor explants without cell selection.

Preclinical studies with murine tumor models have demonstrated that autologous tumor cell vaccines engineered to secrete certain cytokines in a paracrine fashion elicit systemic immune responses capable of eliminating small amounts of established tumor. These results have engendered much interest in developing this strategy for gene therapy of human cancer. The major limitation to creating genetically modified autologous human tumor vaccines is efficient gene transfer into primary tumor explants, since the majority of human tumors fail to proliferate in long-term culture. Using the retroviral vector MFG in conjunction with short-term culture techniques, we have achieved, in the absence of selection, a mean transduction efficiency of 60% in primary renal, ovarian, and pancreatic tumor explants, and we have developed an autologous granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secreting tumor vaccine for clinical trials.

Distal nephron renal tumors: microsatellite allelotype.

Tumors of varying malignant potential arise from the complex epithelial lining of the nephron. Although the molecular characteristics of renal clear cell carcinomas, which arise from the proximal tubule, have been studied, little is known about tumors that develop from other parts of the renal tubular system. To elucidate common molecular lesions that may contribute to the development or progression of nonproximal tubule renal tumors, we performed a detailed microsatellite allelotype of lesions thought to arise from the renal collecting duct. Eighteen collecting duct carcinomas (CDCs) and 13 renal oncocytomas were studied using highly informative microsatellite markers on all autosomal arms. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was identified on multiple chromosomal arms in CDCs and renal oncocytomas. Microsatellite analysis revealed LOH of 1q in 57% of informative CDCs. LOH was also observed on arms 6p (45%), 8p (40%), and 21q (40%). In renal oncocytomas, LOH of 1q occurred in approximately 30% of tumors, but 1p LOH was observed in 57% of informative cases analyzed. High levels of LOH were also observed on arms 8p, 14q, 19q, and 21q in the oncocytomas studied. Loss of chromosomal arm 3p was infrequent in both tumor types. Our results suggest that the molecular events that contribute to the development of distal nephron tumors are distinct from those associated with the etiology of proximal tubule renal cancers.

Bioactivity of autologous irradiated renal cell carcinoma vaccines generated by ex vivo granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene transfer.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene-transduced, irradiated tumor vaccines induce potent, T-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses in preclinical models. We report the initial results of a Phase I trial evaluating this strategy for safety and the induction of immune responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients were treated in a randomized, double-blind dose-escalation study with equivalent doses of autologous, irradiated RCC vaccine cells with or without ex vivo human GM-CSF gene transfer. The replication-defective retroviral vector MFG was used for GM-CSF gene transfer. No dose-limiting toxicities were encountered in 16 fully evaluable patients. GM-CSF gene-transduced vaccines were equivalent in toxicity to nontransduced vaccines up to the feasible limits of autologous tumor vaccine yield. No evidence of autoimmune disease was observed. Biopsies of intradermal sites of injection with GM-CSF gene-transduced vaccines contained distinctive macrophage, dendritic cell, eosinophil, neutrophil, and T-cell infiltrates similar to those observed in preclinical models of efficacy. Histological analysis of delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in patients vaccinated with GM-CSF-transduced vaccines demonstrated an intense eosinophil infiltrate that was not observed in patients who received nontransduced vaccines. An objective partial response was observed in a patient treated with GM-CSF gene-transduced vaccine who displayed the largest delayed-type hypersensitivity conversion. No replication-competent retrovirus was detected in vaccinated patients. This Phase I study demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and bioactivity of an autologous GM-CSF gene-transduced tumor vaccine for RCC patients.

Induction of immunity to prostate cancer antigens: results of a clinical trial of vaccination with irradiated autologous prostate tumor cells engineered to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using ex vivo gene transfer.

Vaccination with irradiated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting gene-transduced cancer vaccines induces tumoricidal immune responses. In a Phase I human gene therapy trial, eight immunocompetent prostate cancer (PCA) patients were treated with autologous, GM-CSF-secreting, irradiated tumor vaccines prepared from ex vivo retroviral transduction of surgically harvested cells. Expansion of primary cultures of autologous vaccine cells was successful to meet trial specifications in 8 of 11 cases (73%); the yields of the primary culture cell limited the number of courses of vaccination. Side effects were pruritus, erythema, and swelling at vaccination sites. Vaccine site biopsies manifested infiltrates of dendritic cells and macrophages among prostate tumor vaccine cells. Vaccination activated new T-cell and B-cell immune responses against PCA antigens. T-cell responses, evaluated by assessing delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions against untransduced autologous tumor cells, were evident in two of eight patients before vaccination and in seven of eight patients after treatment. Reactive DTH site biopsies manifested infiltrates of effector cells consisting of CD45RO+ T-cells, and degranulating eosinophils consistent with activation of both Th1 and Th2 T-cell responses. A distinctive eosinophilic vasculitis was evident near autologous tumor cells at vaccine sites, and at DTH sites. B-cell responses were also induced. Sera from three of eight vaccinated men contained new antibodies recognizing polypeptides of 26, 31, and 150 kDa in protein extracts from prostate cells. The 150-kDa polypeptide was expressed by LNCaP and PC-3 PCA cells, as well as by normal prostate epithelial cells, but not by prostate stromal cells. No antibodies against prostate-specific antigen were detected. These data suggest that both T-cell and B-cell immune responses to human PCA can be generated by treatment with irradiated, GM-CSF gene-transduced PCA vaccines.

Vasectomy: subclinical pathologic changes.

The nature of the local histopathologic changes secondary to vasectomy is described in tissue excised at vasovasostomy in 37 secondarily infertile patients. Segments of surgically removed vasa were also studied in four patients with primary infertility who underwent scrotal explorations and subsequent vasoepididymostomy. Except for infertility, all patients were asymptomatic. Three, often concurrent, inflammatory or proliferative changes were found in 50 of 76 segments of vasa deferentia. These included suture granuloma, sperm granuloma, and vasitis nodosa, the last being a ductular proliferation originating from the central vas lumen and extending into the perivasal soft tissues. Vasitis nodosa occurred in 66% of the patients, and although it was often found with a sperm granuloma, it did occur by itself and is a lesion which should be recognized.

Accumulation of mitochondrial DNA deletions in the malignant prostate of patients of different ages.

It has been shown that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion mutations accumulate with age in many tissues of the body. However, to date no one has shown that these deletions occur in the malignant prostate. Therefore, we hypothesize that such deletions do occur in the prostate and increasingly so with advanced age. To test this hypothesis, DNA was isolated from 34 radical prostatectomy specimens, and the entire mitochondrial genome (16.5kb) was amplified using long range PCR (LXPCR). The LXPCR products were visualized by gel electrophoresis, and the presence of low molecular weight (<16kb) bands was considered evidence of large mtDNA deletions. In order to show that these lower molecular weight LXPCR bands were not simply PCR artifact, we also digested mtDNA from a subset of the same patients and did Southern analysis with a mtDNA probe. Southern blots confirmed the existence of large deletions in every sample tested. Furthermore, several of the specific deletions identified by LXPCR were also seen in the Southern blots. From the LXPCR data, we found that as the age of the specimen increased, so did the average number of low molecular weight bands (i.e. deletions). In particular, one prominent band was seen at 1.2kb and became more consistent with advanced age.

The association of uterine and renal anomalies.

The ACI rat provides a mammalian model for the study of spontaneously occurring defects of partial uterine agenesis and renal agenesis. A variable uterine deformity also occurs with hydronephrosis. A mesonephric duct defect appears responsible for these anomalies.

Mini-laparotomy staging pelvic lymphadenectomy (minilap). Alternative to standard and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy.

In a mini-laparotomy staging pelvic lymphadenectomy (minilap) a 6-cm lower midline abdominal incision is used to perform a complete pelvic lymphadenectomy. If the pelvic lymph nodes were positive for prostate cancer, the incision was closed without pelvic drains. If the pelvic lymph nodes were clinically negative for disease, the incision was extended, and a radical retropubic prostatectomy was done under the same anesthetic. The minilap was performed on 16 patients. Three patients who had grossly positive pelvic lymph nodes confirmed by frozen section examination were denied a radical retropubic prostatectomy and had a two to three-day hospital stay. The other 13 patients had an uneventful radical retropubic prostatectomy. We conclude that the minilap is an attractive alternative for patients requiring staging pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Late hemorrhagic cystitis following low-dose cyclophosphamide therapy.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a recognized acute complication of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) therapy in the treatment of malignant disease. More recently, lower dose, long-term cyclophosphamide therapy has been used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. In 3 patients hemorrhagic cystitis developed after long-term cyclophosphamide therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Even in low dosage, this drug may cause hemorrhagic cystitis.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction in adults.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ) in adults is more common than generally appreciated. It may mimic other diseases and may be associated with abdominal pain, hypertension, and recurrent pyelonephritis. Diagnosis and surgical correction were frequently delayed with an average duration of symptoms of 3.2 years for 31 adult patients. Only 4 adults (13%) were diagnosed at the time of their initial onset of symptoms. Nephrectomies were performed on 24 per cent of renal units. Accessory lower pole renal vessels were found in 52 per cent of the adults with UPJ obstruction, twice the rate found in children. Intravenous digital subtraction angiography and diuretic radionucleotide renography should be considered in the evaluation of an adult patient with a UPJ obstruction because of the high rate of accessory vessels. If accessory vessels are present on the contralateral side, especially postnephrectomy, there is heightened concern for the remaining kidney and close follow-up with ultrasonography is recommended.

Spectrum of unrecognized posterior urethral valves in the adult.

The spectrum of symptoms and findings associated with posterior urethral valves can vary and mimic other conditions. Three cases of congenital posterior urethral valves in adult males are presented. Two patients were on dialysis with end-stage renal failure at the time of diagnosis after many earlier urologic evaluations. One patient subsequently received two cadaver renal transplants. The remaining patient presented with typical symptoms of prostatitis and was found to have posterior valves with a dilated posterior urethra and intraprostatic reflux on voiding cystourethrography.

Malignant renal schwannoma.

Renal schwannomas are rare tumors. There have been only 4 cases (2 benign and 2 malignant) reported in the literature. We report a third case of a malignant renal schwannoma and review the literature on this subject.

Microsurgical vasoepididymostomy to corpus epididymidis in treatment of inflammatory obstructive azoospermia.

A unilateral microsurgical vasoepididymostomy utilizing 35 mm of epididymis was performed in a patient with postinflammatory epididymal obstruction. Success was verified with multiple semen analyses, the hamster egg penetration test, and a pregnancy. These results demonstrate that surgical bypass of inflammatory tubal obstruction in the distal epididymis can result in the return of normal epididymal function and fertility.