Netrin-1: The new tumor markers in renal clear cell carcinoma

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression of Netrin-1 protein in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) and the relationships between Netrin-1, pathology and prognosis.@*METHODS@#72 cases of RCCC admitted in our hospital from 2008 June to 2009 June and their adjacent tissues were selected for study. They included 30 cases in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, 42 cases in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ; 9 cases in grade Ⅰ, 9 cases in grade Ⅱ, 40 cases in grade Ⅲ and 14 cases in grade Ⅳ. All cases were followed up for more than 5 years. Survival analysis lines were made by Kaplan-Meier method and the difference between groups was tested by the Log-rank test. The expression of Netrin-1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry staining and its clinical significance was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Renal clear cell carcinoma 51 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 21 cases in low expression, normal tissues 12 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 60 cases in low expression, the difference between the two groups is significant (χ(2) = 42.921, P ＜ 0.01). The difference of the expression of Netrin-1in Fuhrman grade and AJCC clinical stage is significant (χ(2) = 8.000, χ(2) = 6.203; P＜0.05). The 5-year survival rate in low protein expression group and in high protein expression group was 79％ (17/21) and 62％ (32/51). The survival curve had different trend, with no significant difference between groups ((χ(2) = 1.360, P = 0.245).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Netrin-1 protein plays an important role in the development of RCCC. It might be a new specific tumor marker of RCCC, and might become a new target in treatment of RCCC.