Serum immunosuppressive acid protein predicts lymph node metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of serum immunosuppressive acid protein (IAP) as a marker for lymph node metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Serum IAP levels were studied in 73 patients with renal cell carcinoma, prior to therapy. Serum IAP levels were correlated with the clinical and the post-operative histopathological stage. A threshold value of 800 micrograms/ml was applied.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis revealed a better correlation between IAP concentration and disease than with any other variable. Sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 84%, respectively, thus providing good positive (65%) and negative (98%) predictive values regarding lymph node involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring serum IAP levels can be a valuable contribution to lymph node staging in patients with renal cell cancer. The choice of cut-off value of 800 micrograms/ml has yet to be supported by a larger series.
Department of Urology, University of Graz, Austria.
K
K
Pummer
P
P
Pürstner
H L
HL
Auner
H
H
Stettner
H
H
Trummer
H
H
Penkoff
M
M
Rauchenwald
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C030193:immunosuppressive acidic protein