Tumor cell and tumor vasculature expression of B7-H3 predict survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Although the prognostic value of B7-H1 and B7-H4 expression by tumor cells in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has been established, the role of B7-H3 is unknown. As such, we evaluated the association of B7-H3 expression with clinicopathologic outcomes in patients treated for ccRCC.


METHODS
Nephrectomy specimens from 743 consecutive patients treated for ccRCC at our institution from 1990 to 1999 were evaluated for B7-H3 expression by immunohistochemical staining. Associations of B7-H3 expression with clinical and pathologic features were evaluated using chi2 and Fisher's exact tests. Associations of B7-H3 expression with death from RCC were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.


RESULTS
B7-H3 expression by tumor cells or tumor vasculature was noted in 17% and 95% of specimens, respectively. The presence of either tumor cell or diffuse tumor vasculature expression of B7-H3 was present in 46% of specimens and was associated with multiple adverse clinical and pathologic features. After multivariable adjustment, the presence of either tumor cell or diffuse tumor vasculature B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with an increased risk of death from RCC (risk ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.84; P = 0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Both tumor cell and tumor vasculature B7-H3 expression convey important information to predict ccRCC outcomes. Collectively, our past and present studies pertaining to B7-H ligand expression indicate that ccRCC may use redundant mechanisms to compromise host antitumoral immunity. Future studies will focus on the effect of combined B7-H ligand expression in RCC.
Crispen
Paul L
PL
Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Sheinin
Yuri
Y
Roth
Timothy J
TJ
Lohse
Christine M
CM
Kuntz
Susan M
SM
Frigola
Xavier
X
Thompson
R Houston
RH
Boorjian
Stephen A
SA
Dong
Haidong
H
Leibovich
Bradley C
BC
Blute
Michael L
ML
Kwon
Eugene D
ED
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D060887:B7 Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D060887:B7 Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C423237:CD276 protein, human; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic