Potential use of circulating endothelial cells as a biomarker of renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Each year, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for significant mortality in the population. Whilst the disease is now being diagnosed earlier, determining patient prognosis remains a challenge. Current prognostic indicators, such as TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, and RCC subtype, are inadequate. Unlike several other malignancies, RCC lacks a biomarker that can stratify patients into high, intermediate, or low risk for developing metastases. Additionally, antiangiogenic therapy is currently offered to patients with metastatic disease, however, a biomarker to monitor treatment efficacy is lacking. Recent attention has focused on surrogate markers of tumor vascularization as a source of prognostic b..