Matrix metalloproteinase 12 is an independent prognostic factor predicting postoperative relapse of conventional renal cell carcinoma - a short report

Purpose Approximately 15% of clinically localised conventional renal cell carcinomas (cRCC) develop metastases within 5 years of follow-up. Sarcomatous cRCC is a highly malignant cancer of the kidney. The aim of our study was to identify biomarkers for estimating the postoperative progression of cRCCs. Methods Global microarray-based gene expression analysis of RCCs with and without sarcomatous changes revealed that a high MMP12 expression was associated with a sarcomatous histology. Additionally, we analysed MMP12 expression using a multi-tissue array comprising 736 cRCC patients without metastasis at the time of surgery. The median follow-up time was 66 ± 29 months. Results Immunohistochemistry revealed MMP12 expression in 187 of 736 cRCCs with good follow-up data. Subsequent Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with MMP12 positive tumours exhibited a significantly shorter tumour-free survival ( p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis a weak to strong MMP12 expression indicated a 2.4–2.8 times higher risk of postoperative tumour relapse ( p < 0.001; p < 0.003, respectively). Conclusions MMP12 may serve as a biomarker to estimate postoperative cRCC relapse and as a possible target for penfluridol therapy.