In search of a better crystal ball: recent advances in prognostic markers for clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Advances in imaging have led to a steady increase in the incidence of kidney cancer over the last two decades. There has been no corresponding improvement in our ability to predict the behavior of renal cell carcinoma. Patients with low-risk renal cell carcinoma have good long-term survival with only localized therapy but patients with aggressive disease do poorly, even with optimal multimodal treatment. Biomarkers to differentiate between these two very divergent populations have traditionally been of only limited utility. We review the recent advances in the development of molecular and immunologic markers aimed at improving prognostication of renal cell carcinoma.

Keywords::

• prognostic markers
• RCC biomarker
• renal cell carcinoma

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.