title: Serum amyloid A: a biomarker for renal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum amyloid A (SAA) has been identified as a potential biomarker for renal cell carcinoma. We examined its diagnostic value in patients of different tumor stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, 48 patients with localized and 67 patients with advanced renal tumors were included. 24 patients served as a control group. Interleukine 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and SAA levels were measured preoperatively and at day 5 after nephrectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-6, CRP and SAA levels in patients with advanced tumors are significantly higher than those of patients with localized tumors. Advanced tumors were identified with a sensitivity of 78% (SAA), 69% (CRP) and 44% (IL-6). The specificity was 82%, 82% and 94% for SAA, CRP and IL-6, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that advanced renal cancers are accompanied by increased levels of acute-phase proteins such as CRP and SAA. SAA is found to be more sensitive than CRP for the indication of advanced renal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Transplant Center of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany. kersten.fischer@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Kersten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Gerit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theil
authors.forename: Raschid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoda
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fornara
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein