Molecule indicates prognosis for kidney cancer

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2005  

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Researchers have discovered a key molecule that can help physicians identify and determine prognosis for renal cell carcinoma, one of the most aggressive types of kidney cancer, according to a Nov 30, 2004, news release from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Patients with renal cell carcinoma who have higher levels of the molecule B7-H1 in their tumors are nearly five times more likely to die from the disease than are patients who have the disease but have low levels or an absence of the molecule.

The B7-H1 molecule shuts down the immune system, limiting the body's ability to attack the tumor. This research marks the first time B7-H1 has been demonstrated to be expressed on kidney cancers and the first time this kind of molecule has been correlated with clinical cancer progression and risk of death.

Mayo Clinic Discovers Potential Marker for Aggressive Kidney Cancer; New Help for Tailoring Treatments (news release, Rochester, Minn: Mayo Clinic, Nov 30, 2004) http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2004-rst/2526.html (accessed 8 Dec 2004).

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