Association of topoisomerase II expression and cancer-specific death in patients with surgically resected clear cell renal cell carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 31; no. 15_suppl; p. e15539
• Main Authors: Gardner, Faithlore Patrice, Joseph, Richard Wayne, Serie, Daniel, Hilton, Tracy W., Parasramka, Mansi, Eckel-Passow, Jeanette, Cheville, John, Leibovich, Bradley C., Parker, Alexander S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 20.05.2013
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.e15539

Abstract only e15539 Background: Despite the development of prognostic algorithms based on clinico-pathologic features, the ability to identify aggressive forms of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains suboptimal. Topoisomerase IIA (TOP2a) is a biomarker of DNA replication and a target for antineoplastic agents. Herein, we evaluate the association of TOP2a expression in ccRCC tumors with pathologic features of aggressiveness and risk of cancer-specific death. Methods: We identified 1,380 patients who underwent nephrectomy to treat clinically localized ccRCC between 1/16/1990 and 4/14/2009. TOP2a expression was assessed using IHC and scored as number of positive cells per mm 2 . We evaluated TOP2a expression using a continuous variable and tertile categories. For associations with pathologic features we employed Kruskal-Wallis tests and for associations with cancer-specific survival we generated Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: HigherTOP2a expression is associated with later stage, higher grade and higher MayoSSIGN score (all p < 0.001). The risk of death from RCC increases with increasing TOP2a expression (p trend < 0.0001), and this association remained strong after after multivariate adjustment for well-known predictors of RCC aggressiveness. Compared to patients in the lowest tertile, those patients with tumors in the highest tertile of TOP2a expression were at increased risk of RCC death (HR=2.62 95% CI 1.95-3.54; p<0.0001). Interestingly, among those patients with low risk disease (SSIGN score 0-3; ~95% 10 year survival), those with high TOP2a were at increased risk of RCC death (HR=3.48 95% CI 1.56-7.76; p =0.002). Conclusions: Higher TOP2a expression is associated with more aggressive pathologic features and increased risk of cancer-specific death among patients undergoing surgery for localized ccRCC. If confirmed, these data support further inquiry for TOP2a as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for ccRCC patients.