Prognostic significance of tenascin-C expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract. Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix protein that plays an important role in cell proliferation, migration and tumor invasion in various types of cancer. However, few reports exist on tenascin-C expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of tenascin-C in clear cell RCC. Using immunohistochemistry, 137 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from patients with clear cell RCC were examined for tenascin-C expression. Tenascin-C expression was observed in 55 (40.1%) of the 137 clear cell RCC sections. Tumor cells displayed membranous and/or cytoplasmic staining for tenascin-C. Tenascin-C expression was more prominent near the pseudocapsule of the tumor and around the tumor vessels. Tenascin-C expression was significantly associated with a higher stage (P=0.0065) and higher nuclear grade (P=0.0001). However, there was no correlation between the tenascin-C expression and venous involvement. The cancer-specific survival rate in patients with a tenascin-C-positive primary tumor was significantly lower than that in those with a tenascin-C-negative primary tumor in univariate analysis (P=0.0017). However, tenascin-C expression did not exhibit a significant value for cancer-related death in the Cox regression analysis. In patients with stage 1-3 disease, the 5-year metastasis-free rate in patients with the tenascin-C-positive primary tumor was significantly lower than that in those with the tenascin-C-negative primary tumor (67.8 vs. 88.5%, respectively; P=0.0038). The Cox regression analysis showed that tenascin-C expression is a significant predictor of metastasis (P=0.0345). The tenascin-C expression was strongly related to the stage, nuclear grade and 5-year metastasis-free rate. Therefore, tenascin-C expression may be a possible marker for the metastatic potential of clear cell RCC.

LIM-class homeobox gene Lim1, a novel oncogene in human renal cell carcinoma

“…Our results strongly suggest that Lim1 is part of the molecular network involved in tumor spread and invasion in human CCC. In accordance with that hypothesis, tenascin-C expression was shown to be a significant predictor of metastasis in human CCC (Ohno et al, 2008). It will be interesting in the near future to define more precisely the role of Lim1 in tumor invasion, and this should lead to a better comprehension of the molecular mechanism involved in metastatic spread of human CCC.…”

Potencjalne zastosowanie tenascyny C w diagnozowaniu i leczeniu nowotworów

“…Zdaniem badaczy, ekspresja TN-C w raku nerki [72] jest niekorzystnym czynnikiem rokowniczym. Kliniczne znaczenie tenascyny C w nowotworach układu pokarmowego W raku jelita grubego TN-C ulega znacznej ekspresji w zrę-bie otaczającym komórki nowotworowe.…”

Clinical implications of tenascin-C and OX40 ligand in patients with acute coronary syndrome

“…Upon tissue damage, TNC has a multitude of functions that mediate inflammatory and fibrotic processes, in order to enable effective tissue repair. Over the last decade, accumulating evidence indicated a vital role for TNC in cardiac and arterial injury, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as in the modulation of stem cell behavior (5). Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that a range of factors implicated in cardiovascular disease appear to be able to stimulate TNC synthesis by fibroblasts (6,7).…”