BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR AS A CANDIDATE TUMOR-MARKER FOR RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

The present investigation was conducted to determine serum levels of b asic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) by enzyme immunoassay in patients with various urogenital tumors. Renal cell carcinoma had a higher tend ency (28 of 52, 53.8%) toward increased serum levels of basic FGF than any of the other urogenital tumors, and increased serum basic PCF was detected more frequently in patients with advanced renal cell carcino ma. Analysis of histological pattern indicated that renal cell carcino ma with a solid or tubular component is more likely to produce basic F GF. However, no significant difference was seen between the percentage of clear cell type tumor patients with increased serum basic FGF (50. 0%) and the percentage of granular cell type tumor patients with incre ased serum basic FGF (66.7%). Five of 8 patients with renal cell carci noma who underwent selective renal venous sampling before nephrectomy showed increased serum basic FGF in the renal vein from the affected k idney. After resection of the affected kidney to remove the cancer, se rum basic FGF disappeared within 2 weeks. However, residual huge tumor or postoperative disease prolonged the increased levels of basic FGF in 2 patients, indicating that basic FGF is produced from and secreted by tumor tissue itself. These findings suggest that serum basic FGF c an be useful in the diagnosis, and in evaluating the prognosis, of pat ients with renal cell. carcinoma.