Research on the Prognostic Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Renal cell carcinoma is the most lethal urological cancer. 60 to 70% RCCs are localized cases where the gold standard treatment is nephrectomy. 20% of cases are advanced at the time of diagnosis. The treatment protocol of such cases remains unsatisfactory as they are chemo and radio resistant. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor is the key mediator of angiogenesis in renal cancers. Inactivation of von Hippel-Lindau gene leads to the production of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1?. Following this VEGF-A becomes highly expressed in the carcinoma tissue. This results in tumour genesis by promoting distant metastasis, uncontrolled growth, and resistance to apoptosis. Thus targeting VEGF plays a potential role in the treatment of RCC.

Methods and Materials: This study was conducted using 150 tissue blocks of histopathologically proven RCC patients. The Ethics Committee, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (Deemed University) granted the ethical clearance. VEGF was analyzed by Biotin Streptavidin Immunoperoxidase method. Q scoring was done.

Statistical Analysis: Chi square test and Fischer Exact test was done to assess the comparison between the VEGF expression in tumour cells and their characteristic features like histology, grade and stage. SPSS (version 20.0) was used. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Aim: To assess the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Renal Cell Carcinoma cases and its role as a potential biomarker. Results: 96.6% of the RCC cases were VEGF positive in the tumor area, whereas cells in the adjacent normal tissue area expressed weak staining. Tumour angiogenesis was reported to be the significant predictor of prognosis in RCC.

Conclusion: Inhibition of VEGF can cause normalization of per­meability, improve the host immunity and access for treatments like chemotherapy.