Expression of progranulin and the epithelin/granulin precursor acrogranin correlates with neoplastic state in renal epithelium.
BACKGROUND
Current traditional pathological parameters, including staging and grading, are not sufficient in predicting outcome in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Acrogranin is an epithelial growth factor and has been demonstrated to play a role in teratocarcinogenesis and tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to examine levels of acrogranin in renal cancer.


METHODS
Western blot analysis was performed on renal tissue protein lysates. In addition, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of acrogranin expression was conducted on tissue sections of various histological types and grades of RCC.


RESULTS
Western analysis showed that acrogranin levels were low in benign renal tissue and increased in malignant renal tissue. In addition, IHC revealed that high-grade RCC exhibited higher levels of expression than low-grade RCC and normal tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that acrogranin may be a functional important growth factor in RCC and may be a potential molecular marker for high-grade RCC.
Donald
C D
CD
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Laddu
A
A
Chandham
P
P
Lim
S D
SD
Cohen
C
C
Amin
M
M
Gerton
G L
GL
Marshall
F F
FF
Petros
J A
JA
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000077153:Progranulins
C492314:GRN protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000077153:Progranulins