Maspin expression in renal cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between maspin expression and prognostic parameters in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with relevance to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density.


METHODS
One-hundred twenty-four patients with RCC of varying histologic types who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy were studied. The mean age of the patients was 59.4 years (range, 28-84). Maspin, VEGF, and microvessel density were studied by the universal avidin-biotin complex peroxidase method. Sections of 5-μm thickness were taken from paraffin blocks for immunohistochemical study. Cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining were scored for maspin as negative and positive for all tumor cells.


RESULTS
Cytoplasmic maspin expression was positive in 51 (41.1%) patients. Nuclear maspin expression was not seen in any of the materials. Maspin expression decreased as tumor size increased (P = .036) without any specific relation to tumor subtypes (P = .583), and decreased as the pathologic stages increased without reaching statistical significance (P = .053). There were no correlations between maspin positivity and either VEGF expression or microvessel density.


CONCLUSIONS
In RCC, maspin expression is reduced with increased tumor size. Studies with larger series may be contributory in defining the role of maspin expression in RCC. Moreover, regulation of maspin expression genes appears to have the potential to lead to new treatment approaches.
Turunc
Tahsin
T
Department of Urology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Bal
Nebil
N
Dirim
Ayhan
A
Kuzgunbay
Baris
B
Gul
Umit
U
Ozkardes
Hakan
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis
C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A