C-MYC EXPRESSION IN RENAL-CARCINOMA - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL-PARAMETERS

There is evidence that c-myc is expressed in renal carcinomas and that it is associated with histological grade. This study reports on the c linical correlations of oncogene expression and clinical features of t he disease. Tissue sections from 97 patients (95 primary and 12 second ary cancers) were immunostained with a c-myc oncoprotein antibody. The tumours were scored for extent and intensity of nuclear and cytoplasm ic staining. Ninety patients were suitable for follow-up study. High l evels of expression correlated significantly with increasing T categor y and nuclear grade, as well as with venous invasion. No correlation w ith nodal involvement, the presence of metastases, tumour architecture or cell type was found. The extent of nuclear staining was related to survival (although not to recurrence), but in a multivariate analysis did not provide independent prognostic information. It was concluded that semiquantitative assessment of levels of c-myc oncoprotein does n ot provide clinically useful prognostic information.