Expression and prognostic value of platelet‐derived growth factor‐AA and its receptor α in nephroblastoma

• Published in: BJU international 2010-11, Vol.106 (9), p.1389-1393
• Main Authors: Ghanem, Mazen, Nijman, Rien, Safan, Manal, Van Der Kwast, Theodorus, Vansteenbrugge, Gert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney Neoplasms - metabolism; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; PDGF; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - metabolism; Prognosis; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - metabolism; Wilms Tumor - metabolism; Wilms Tumor - pathology; Wilms’ tumour
• ISSN: 1464-4096; 1464-410X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09211.x

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential role of platelet‐derived growth factor‐AA (PDGF‐AA) and the PDGF‐α receptor as prognostic markers in Wilms’ tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression of PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α were investigated using immunohistochemical analysis of 62 Wilms’ tumours. Patients were treated with chemotherapeutic agents before surgery and had a mean follow‐up of 6.4 years. RESULTS PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α were expressed by the mesenchymal tissue of the normal kidney and mainly detected in the epithelial component of Wilms’ tumour. Immunoreactive tumour epithelium cells were found in 50% and 55% for PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α, respectively. The epithelial expression of both PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α correlated with pathological stage. Univariate analysis showed that epithelial PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α receptor expression were indicative of clinical progression. In a multivariate analysis, PDGF‐α protein expression by epithelial cells was an independent prognostic marker of a favourable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Expression of both PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α in the epithelial part of Wilms’ tumour correlated with tumour stage and clinical progression. Our data suggest that both PDGF‐AA and PDGF‐α receptor expression are related to prognosis.