VEGF expression and response to sunitinib in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) and Overall Survival (OS) of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with sunitinib.


METHODS
We have studied 41 patients with metastatic RCC treated with radical nephrectomy, between 2008 and 2010, and sunitinib. Pathological features were compared with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) score, DMFS, and with OS, and PFS after first-line therapy.


RESULTS
Tumor stage and grade, VEGF expression and H-score correlated with MSKCC score, DMFS, and with OS; VEGF expression correlated with stage and OS. Patients with higher H-score and higher VEGF expression had a significantly shorter survival; OS after first-line sunitinib therapy and PFS correlated with MSKCC score and DMFS but not with VEGF expression and H score.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest the potential use of tumor cell VEGF expression as a prognostic marker for DMFS and OS, but VEGF does not appear promising as a marker of response to therapy.
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Specialistiche - Sezione di Urologia, Università Politecnica delle Marche - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti - via Conca 71 - Ancona, Italy. d.minardi@univpm.it.
Daniele
D
Minardi
Guendalina
G
Lucarini
Matteo
M
Santoni
Roberta
R
Mazzucchelli
Luciano
L
Burattini
Mirco
M
Pistelli
Maristella
M
Bianconi
Roberto
R
Di Primio
Mario
M
Scartozzi
Rodolfo
R
Montironi
Stefano
S
Cascinu
Giovanni
G
Muzzonigro
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077210:Sunitinib; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077210:Sunitinib
Renal cell carcinoma; distant metastasis-free survival; overall survival; vascular endothelial growth factor