Plasma glycosaminoglycans as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in surgically treated renal cell carcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Gatto, F.; Blum, K. A.; Hosseini, S. S.; Ghanaat, M.; Kashan, M.; Maccari, F.; Galeotti, F.; Hsieh, J. J.; Volpi, N.; Hakimi, A. A.; Nielsen, J.
Article Title: Plasma glycosaminoglycans as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in surgically treated renal cell carcinoma
Abstract: Background: Plasma glycosaminoglycan (GAG) measurements, when aggregated into diagnostic scores, accurately distinguish metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from healthy samples and correlate with prognosis. However, it is unknown if GAG scores can detect RCC in earlier stages or if they correlate with prognosis after surgery. Objective: To explore the sensitivity and specificity of plasma GAGs for detection of early-stage RCC and prediction of recurrence and death after RCC surgery. Design, setting, and participants: This was a retrospective case-control study consisting of a consecutive series of 175 RCC patients surgically treated between May 2011 and February 2014 and 19 healthy controls. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Plasma GAGs in preoperative and postoperative RCC and healthy samples were measured using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence in a single blinded laboratory. A discovery set was first analyzed to update the historical GAG score. The sensitivity of the new GAG score for RCC detection versus healthy subjects was validated using the remaining samples. The correlation of the new GAG score to histopathologic variables, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival was evaluated using nonparametric and log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Results and limitations: The RCC cohort included 94 stage I, 58 stage II–III, and 22 stage IV cases. In the first discovery set (n = 67), the new GAG score distinguished RCC from healthy samples with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.999. In the validation set (n = 108), the GAG score achieved an AUC of 0.991, with 93.5% sensitivity. GAG scores were elevated in RCC compared to healthy samples, irrespective of and uncorrelated to stage, grade, histology, age, or gender. The total chondroitin sulfate concentration was an independent prognostic factor for both overall and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratios 1.51 and 1.25) with high concordance when combined with variables available at pathologic diagnosis (C-index 0.926 and 0.849) or preoperatively (C-index 0.846 and 0.736). Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature and moderate variability in GAG laboratory measurements. Conclusions: Plasma GAGs are highly sensitive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in surgically treated RCC independent of stage, grade, or histology. Prospective validation studies on GAG scores for early detection, prediction, and surveillance for RCC recurrence are thus warranted. Patient summary: In this study, we examined if a new molecular blood test can detect renal cell carcinoma in the early stages and predict if the cancer might relapse after surgery. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrial.gov as NCT03471897. Plasma glycosaminoglycan measurements aggregated into scores had higher sensitivity for the detection of any-stage renal cell carcinoma and high concordance with survival after surgery. © 2018 European Association of Urology
Keywords: adult; controlled study; human tissue; treatment response; aged; cancer surgery; human cell; major clinical study; overall survival; case control study; clinical feature; histopathology; mortality; cancer recurrence; postoperative period; validation process; disease marker; cancer staging; outcome assessment; cancer diagnosis; cancer grading; sensitivity and specificity; sensitivity analysis; biological marker; fluorescence; cohort analysis; relapse; retrospective study; cancer therapy; renal cell carcinoma; preoperative period; blood analysis; capillary electrophoresis; predictor variable; therapy effect; cancer epidemiology; correlational study; recurrence free survival; diagnostic test accuracy study; glycosaminoglycan; cancer prognosis; human; male; female; priority journal; article; diagnostic biomarkers; liquid biopsy; prognostic biomarkers
Journal Title: European Urology Oncology
Volume: 1
Issue: 5
ISSN: 2588-9311
Publisher: Elsevier BV  
Date Published: 2018-10-01
Start Page: 364
End Page: 377
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2018.04.015
PUBMED: 31158075
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8253162
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. James J Hsieh
    125 Hsieh
  2. Abraham Ari Hakimi
    324 Hakimi
  3. Mahyar   Kashan
    14 Kashan
  4. Mazyar   Ghanaat
    18 Ghanaat
  5. Kyle Blum
    38 Blum