Abstract
OBJECTIVE: No affective serum tumor marker currently exists in renal call carcinoma. The transmembrane glycoprotein MN, has been associated with a malignant phenotype in human cell lines. We have performed an analysis to determine whether MN is expressed in renal cell carcinoma and it's potential role as a tumor marker. MATERIALS: A reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was designed using oligonucleotide primers specific for the human MN gene. This assay identifies MN gene expression based on amplification of a 386 base pair (bp) DNA fragment from reverse transcribed RNA. This assay was applied to RNAs extracted from human renal tumor tissue end normal renal tissue from patients undergoing radical nephrectomy. Correlation was performed between histological subtype and MN expression. RESULTS: All fifteen samples of normal human kidney assayed went negative for MN gene expression. 12/18 (67%) renal cancers assayed were positive for MN expression. All 12 tumors demonstrating MN expression were of the clear cell histologic subtype. The six negative specimens were of various other histologic subtypes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the MN gene is tumor cell specific for clear cell carcinoma of the kidney. The RT-PCR assay for MN gene expression is currently being applied to peripheral blood samples as a tool In the molecular staging of renal cell carcinoma.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 134 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | British Journal of Urology |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. 2 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |