Prognostic significance of Id-1 and its association with EGFR in renal cell cancer

AIMS

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is suggested as one of the positive regulators in the invasive progression of renal cell cancer (RCC). Recently, Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation or DNA binding), a helix-loop-helix transcription factor, has been identified as one of the key factors in the EGFR signalling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of Id-1 expression in renal cell cancer and to study its relationship with EGFR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Id-1 and EGFR expression was examined in tissue microarray (TMA) samples of 107 RCC and 32 normal kidney specimens by immunohistochemistry. Relative Id-1 and EGFR protein expression was quantified by estimating the staining intensity on a four-grade scale. We found that while negative to weak expression of Id-1 and EGFR was observed in non-malignant kidney tissues, most RCCs showed significant positive Id-1 and EGFR expression in tumour cells. In addition, Id-1 immunostaining intensity was positively associated with increased tumour staging, grading and EGFR expression.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of Id-1 is a novel marker for advanced RCC which is positively correlated with EGFR expression. Our results suggest that Id-1 may play an important role in the development of RCC and indicate that Id-1 is a potential marker of patients with a poor prognosis.

Global analysis of differentially expressed genes in androgen-independent prostate cancer

Progression to androgen independent (AI) is the main cause of death in prostate cancer, and the mechanism is still unclear. By reviewing the expression profiles of 26 prostate cancer samples in a holistic view, we found a group of genes differentially expressed in AI compared with androgen-dependent groups (P-value<0.01, t-test). Focusing on apoptosis, proliferation, hormone and angiogenesis, we found a group of genes such as thioredoxin domain containing 5 , tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 10a , ribosomal protein S19 and Janus kinase 2 upregulated in AI prostate cancer, could play important roles in the transition from AD to AI and could be biomarkers of prognosis.