SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENT PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR LOCALLY CONFINED RENAL-CELL CARCINOMAS

The significance of tumor stage, malignancy grade, Ki-67, PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen), H-3-thymidine labeling index, tumor ploidy as well as tumor growth after xenotransplantation into nude mice (GAX range) has been examined by following the fate of a total of 41 patients with a locally confined renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy (mean follow-up time 5.2 years). Using the single factor analysis tumor stage, malignancy grade, Ki-67, and GAX range were found to be significant prognostic parameters with respect to both survival and tumor recurrence. Applying the multivariate analysis the combination of the ''new'' factors shows even a higher prognostic relevance than that of the two ''classic'' factors tumor stage and malignancy grade. The calculated prognostic index based on tumor stage, malignancy grade and Ki-67 showed a considerably higher prognostic validity than that of the two conventional prognosticators.