Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Circulating biomarkers to guide antiangiogenic and immune therapies

• Published in: Urologic oncology Vol. 34; no. 11; pp. 510 - 518
• Main Authors: Zhang, Tian, M.D, Zhu, Jason, M.D, George, Daniel J., M.D, Nixon, Andrew B., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - blood; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - therapy; Circulating biomarkers; Circulating tumor cells; Circulating tumor DNA; Cytokines - blood; DNA, Neoplasm - blood; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Immunotherapy; Kidney Neoplasms - blood; Kidney Neoplasms - therapy; Lymphocyte Count; Metastatic renal cell carcinoma; Neoplasm Proteins - blood; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; RNA, Neoplasm - blood; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Urology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood; VEGF therapies; Metastatic renal cell carcinoma; VEGF therapies; Circulating tumor cells; Circulating biomarkers; Immunotherapy; Circulating tumor DNA
• ISSN: 1078-1439; 1873-2496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2016.06.020

Abstract Background The therapeutic armamentarium for metastatic renal cell carcinoma has rapidly expanded over the past decade to include a number of anti-angiogenic therapies and more recently, an immunotherapy. Biomarkers in the peripheral circulation are easily accessible, can provide important prognostic value, and have the potential to give important information about disease progression and treatment sensitivity or response. Main Findings Herein, we review a variety of circulating markers including circulating protein markers (VEGF-A, inflammatory cytokines, and LDH), circulating nucleic acids (cell free DNA and micro RNAs), and circulating cellular factors (circulating tumor cells, circulating endothelial cells, and immune cell subsets). We discuss these biomarkers in the context of their ability to provide prognostic and predictive information to anti-angiogenic and immunotherapeutic agents. Principal Conclusions While promising, there is still much work to be done, and prospective evaluation of any potential predictive biomarker for these therapies is greatly needed.