Objective: To investigate the prognostic impact of erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO-receptor (EPO-R) expression in tumour as well as serum EPO in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Methods: Using immunohistochemistry, EPO and EPO-R were assessed in tissue microarrays from 195 RCCs. RCC type, TNM stage, nuclear grade, survival, EPO and haemoglobin (Hb) levels in blood were registered.
Results: Strong expression of EPO and EPO-R in tumour tissue was found in 83 and 56%, respectively. EPO and EPO-R expression differed between RCC types. Serum EPO and blood Hb did not correlate to the expression of EPO or EPO-R. A positive correlation was found between the expression of EPO and EPO-R (p = 0.028). Survival was not related to tumour EPO, whereas strong EPO-R expression indicated a non-significantly worse prognosis. Serum EPO correlated positively to TNM stage and nuclear grade and negatively to survival. A multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage and nuclear grade were independent prognostic factors. Tumour EPO and EPO-R expression as well as serum EPO added no independent prognostic information.
Conclusion: No correlation between EPO or EPO-R in tumour tissue and serum EPO or blood Hb was found. Neither EPO, EPO-R in tumour tissue nor serum EPO are independent prognostic factors.
Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.