title: Loss of EphA3 Protein Expression Is Associated With Advanced TNM Stage in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors constitute the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Ephs and their ligands ephrins play an important role in development and carcinogenesis. The expression of EphA3, an Eph family member, has been investigated in a variety of human cancers, with mixed results. High levels of EphA3 protein expression have been reported in colorectal, prostate, and gastric cancers, whereas loss of protein expression has been reported in lung and hematopoietic cancers. EphA3 expression in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and its association with clinicopathological parameters has not previously been examined. The aim of this study was to determine the cancerous value of EphA3 protein expression in patients with ccRCC.
  
  
  
  This study included 68 patients with ccRCC. EphA3 protein expression was examined in ccRCC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry and a specific polyclonal antibody, and the correlation between EphA3 expression and clinicopathological parameters was subsequently evaluated.
  
  
  
  High EphA3 protein expression was observed in all normal renal tubules. In the 68 ccRCC patient samples examined, EphA3 protein expression was detected in 19 cases (27.9%) and undetectable in 49 cases (72.1%). EphA3 protein expression was significantly associated with tumor diameter (P = .016) and tumor, node metastases stage (P = .029). No significant association between protein expression and sex (P = .387), age (P = .727), or nuclear grade (P = .243) was found.
  
  
  
  Ourdata indicate that EphA3 protein expression is reduced in ccRCC, suggesting the possibility that this receptor functions as a tumor suppressor in this disease.
authors: Department of Urology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Xiaolin
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Urology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Haifei
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Urology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Guangxin
authors: G
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: ntzlyyflk@163.com.
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Pathology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: jd_wang@outlook.com.
authors: Jiandong
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D036121:Receptor, EphA3
chemical_list: C491718:EPHA3 protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D036121:Receptor, EphA3
keywords: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; EphA3; Receptor tyrosine kinase