title: Plasma levels of cellular fibronectin in patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Clinical markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are lacking. Fibronectin is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in cellular attachment and cell spread. The aim of this study was to test the clinical suitability of cellular fibronectin (cFN) in plasma as a tumor marker for RCC and to determine a possible relationship between cFN plasma levels and stage of disease. Therefore, cFN was determined in the plasma of patients with localized (n = 40) and metastatic (n = 20) RCC using a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. Fifty patients with different non-malignant urological disorders were recruited as a control group. In the control group, mean cFN plasma levels amounted to 553 ng/ml. In patients with localized RCC, plasma concentrations of cFN were increased (1,295 ng/ml; p < 0.01). Patients with metastatic disease had the highest concentrations (3,842 ng/ml). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference between controls, and patients with localized and metastatic RCC (p < 0.01), with a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 78% and a positive predictive value of 81% using a cutoff value of 540 ng/ml (receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis). These data suggest that cFN is not a realistic marker for the detection of RCC. However, elevated plasma levels in more advanced disease and an acceptable predictive value could indicate that cFN is useful as a follow-up tool in the management of RCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Philipps University Marburg, Medical School, Marburg, Germany. hegele@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hegele
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidenreich
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kropf
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Knobloch
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olbert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005353:Fibronectins