The expression of RUNX3 gene in renal cell cancer and its clinical relevance with serum vascular endothelial growth factor

Abstract

<p>Background: Latest advances indicate that RUNX3 is a candidate tumor suppressor in several types of human cancers, including renal cell cancer.<br />However, its definitive role is not yet established. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been widely studied as a surrogate marker of<br />angiogenic activity and prognostic marker in renal cancer for monitoring treatment response and detection of early relapse. The aim of the study was<br />to examine the clinical significance of RUNX3 expression and serum VEFG in series of renal cancer patients using quantitative real-time polymerase<br />chain reaction and standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and find its correlation with renal cancer stage, grade, and histopathology.<br />Materials and Methods: We reviewed our prospectively collected renal cancer database of 47 patients. All patients were evaluated preoperatively<br />and staged and underwent partial or radical nephrectomy as per the feasibility criteria. RUNX 3 expression in tumor tissue and adjoining parenchyma<br />was sampled in all patients, and serum levels of VEGF were measured in pre-and post-operative period on day 7 and day 30 after surgery. 10<br />age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers served as control group. Results: We observed that RUNX3 gene expression was significantly lower in<br />tumor tissue than in normal renal parenchyma of a renal cancer patient. The serum VEGF levels were significantly increased in patients with renal<br />cell carcinoma (RCC) compared to normal healthy volunteers and showed decreasing trend after the surgery. Loss of RUNX3 gene expression<br />and higher VEGF levels strongly correlated with high-grade tumors; however, it was not related to tumor size and histopathology. There was no<br />correlation of RUNX 3 with VEGF levels in RCC patients. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that renal cancer patients had increased<br />VEGF levels which were effectively alleviated by curative resection. Lower expression of RUNX3 in renal cancer suggests its tumor suppressive<br />role and new insights into targeted therapies linking RUNX3 gene may have some diagnostic and therapeutic implications in RCC patients. We did<br />not find any correlation between RUNX3 gene and serum VEGF.</p>