Prognostic significance of CD73 expression in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Abstract

4582 Background: CD73 or ecto-5'-nucleotidase mediates the de-phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate to adenosine which promotes immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Its prognostic significance in localized RCC has not been well characterized. Methods: We assessed CD73 protein expression using immunohistochemistry (Cell Signaling Technology, D7F9A, 1:25) on tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing tumor tissue from patients with pT1-4,N0-1, M0 RCC who underwent nephrectomy.CD73 expression was quantified using a combined score (CS: intensity x percentage of cells staining positive). CD73 positivity was defined as any CD73 expression on tumor cells (CS > 0). Patients were categorized into CD73 negative (CS = 0), low ( < median CS) and high (≥ median CS) groups. Clinical data was collected retrospectively.Baseline patient characteristics were compared between CD73 negative and positive (high + low) groups using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Multivariable Cox regression evaluated associations of CD73 expression with disease-free and overall survival (DFS, OS) after adjusting for other baseline prognostic variables. Results: Of the 112 patients included, clear cell was the most common histology (70%) followed by chromophobe (12.5%), and papillary (12%) RCC. CD73 expression (CS > 0) was noted in 22% (n = 25) of tumors and was associated with more advanced stage (T3-4/N+: 37.5% vs. 25%; p = 0.02) and a trend towards higher nuclear grade (≥3: 48% vs. 35%; p = 0.07). Median follow-up from nephrectomy was 9.7 yrs. In multivariable analysis adjusting for nuclear grade ( < 3 vs. ≥3) and stage (T1-2, N0 vs. T3-4/N+), tumors with high CD73 expression had significantly worse DFS and OS (Table). Conclusions: CD73 expression was found in 22% of RCC patients and was associated with adverse pathologic features and poor prognosis independent of tumor stage and histologic grade. Our results provide strong rationale for further investigation of the CD73/adenosine pathway as a therapeutic target in RCC. [Table: see text]