title: Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (Fgf21) as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Renal Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The finding of new biomarkers is needed to have a better sub-classification of primary renal tumors (RCC) as well as more reliable predictors of outcome and therapy response. In this study, we evaluated the role of circulating FGF21, an endocrine factor, as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from healthy controls (HC), clear cell and chromophobe RCC cancer patients were obtained from the serum biobank "Biobanco Público de Muestras Séricas Oncológicas" (BPMSO) of the "Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo". Serum FGF21 and leptin were measured by ELISA while other metabolic markers were measured following routinely clinical procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of our major findings was that FGF21 levels were significantly increased in ccRCC patients compared with HC. Moreover, we showed an association between the increased serum FGF21 levels and the shorter disease free survival in a cohort of 98 ccRCC patients, after adjustment for other predictors of outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that higher FGF21 serum level is an independent prognostic biomarker, associated with worse free-disease survival.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H Roffo", Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Knott
authors.affiliation: Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires- Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Minatta
authors.affiliation: Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires- Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roulet
authors.affiliation: Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires- Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gueglio
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H Roffo", Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasik
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H Roffo", Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ranuncolo
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica UBA, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H Roffo", Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puricelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
keywords: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; Prognosis biomarker; Serum fibroblast growth factor 21