Correlation between TACS and FAP with Prognosis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Patient

Abstract

Background: Despite recent promising findings from immunotherapy and other targeted medicines, individuals with metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (mCCRCC) still have a poor prognosis. Biomarkers associated with metastatic status in CCRCC are important for early detection and for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression is associated with development of early metastases and worse cancer-specific survival. Tumor-associated collagen signature (TACS) is type of collagen that develop during tumor growth and associated with tumor invasion.Methods: 26 metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients that underwent nephrectomy were admitted to this study. Data regarding age, sex, Fuhrman’s grade, tumor diameter, staging, FAP expression, and TACS grading were collected. Spearman rho test was used to correlate FAP expression and TACS grading in both primary tumors and metastases, and with patients age and sex.Results: FAP expression correlated positively with TACS degree (Spearman rho test r = 0.51; p = 0.0001). FAP was positive in 25 (96%) of all intratumor samples and positive in 22(84%) of all stromal sample.Conclusion: FAP can be used as prognostic factor in metastatic CCRCC, its presence can predict aggressiveness of mCRCC and poorer outcome in patient. Furthermore TACS can be also used for prediction of aggressiveness and metastasis due to the changes are necessary for tumor to invade other organs.