title: Transglutaminase 2 expression and its prognostic significance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A few recent studies have demonstrated a possible role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in tumorigenesis or progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to examine TG2 expression and its clinicopathologic significance in a large number of human clear cell RCCs (CCRCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 638 CCRCC patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy between 1995 and 2005. The expression of TG2 was determined by immunohistochemistry and categorized into four groups, according to staining intensity: negative (0), mild (1+), moderate (2+), and strong (3+).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TG2 staining intensity was negative in 8.5% of CCRCC (n=54), 1+ in 32.6% (n=208), 2+ in 50.5% (n=322), and 3+ in 8.5% (n=54). Strong TG2 expression was correlated with high Fuhrman nuclear grade (p=.011), high T category (p=.049), metastasis (p=.043) and male sex (p<.001) but not with N category.The survival analysis showed a significant association between strong TG2 expression and worse overall and cancer-specific survival (p=.027 and p=.010, respectively). On multivariate analysis, strong TG2 expression was a marginally significant prognostic indicator for Fuhrman nuclear grade and TNM staging (p=.054).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is the first to demonstrate the clinicopathologic significance of TG2 expression in a large number of human CCRCC samples. Strong TG2 expression was associated with high nuclear grade and poor prognosis.
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min Jee
authors: MJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hae Woon
authors: HW
authors: Baek
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ye-Young
authors: YY
authors: Rhee
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Cheol
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jeong Whan
authors: JW
authors: Park
authors: Department of Pathology, Good Moonhwa Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors: Hwal Woong
authors: HW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Kidney Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung Chul
authors: KC
authors: Moon
keywords: Carcinoma, renal cell; Prognosis; Transglutaminases