Title:Biomarkers for VEGF-Targeted Therapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Critical Review of Level of Evidence and Up to Date
VOLUME: 4 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Minardi Daniele, Quaresima Luigi, Conti Alessandro, Matteo Santoni, Milanese Giulio and Muzzonigro Giovanni
Affiliation:Department of Clinic and Specialistic Sciences - Urology, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region - Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti - via Conca, 71 - 60131 Ancona, Italy.
Keywords:Angiogenesis, HIF, kidney cancer, monoclonal antibodies, prognosis, therapy, VEGF.
Abstract:Background: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) is a malignancy with a poor prognosis due to inefficacy
of chemotherapy and to the efficacy of immunotherapy only in few patients. The availability of agents directly targeting
tumorigenic and angiogenic pathways, as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF) inhibitors, has significantly
improved the outcome of these patients. Aim of this work is to evaluate the possible prognostic and predictive role
of patent biomarkers on mRCC. Methods: We have done a critical review based on Level of Evidence (LOE) analysis of
recent publications indexed on PubMed from January 2011 up to August 2014. These studies have evaluated whether
biomarkers can have a correlation with clinical outcomes in metastatic RCC patients treated with VEGF-targeted therapy.
Results: We identified a total of 25 articles. On the basis of results of randomized controlled trials and prospective and
retrospective observational studies, we tried to assess the predictive role of biomarkers. Six of these biomarkers (VEGF,
interleukin (IL)-6, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), osteopontin, IL-8 and sVEGFR-3) showed a potential predictive role.
Moreover, VEGF-A, IL-6 and IL-8 seem to have prognostic value. Conclusion: Despite intensive efforts, there are no
validated predictive or prognostic biomarkers currently in use in patients with mRCC. This literature up date is trying to
highlight the biomarkers potentially useful to predict response to VEGF-targeted therapy and those with a prognostic
value.
