VETC, Prognostic and Predictive Value in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Adrenal Carcinoma
Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters (VETC), Prognostic and Predictive Value in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Adrenal Gland Carcinoma
1 other identifier
observational
180
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients and often epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is advocated as the basic mechanism. Recently Fang and colleagues described an EMT-independent process of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): endothelium covers small cluster of tumor cells allowing tumor dissemination. This process of angiogenesis, named VETC (vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters) in HCC literature, has been described under different names in other cancer types. Furthermore, the investigators confirmed the negative impact of VETC on patients' prognosis on a large multicenter cohort of HCCs. Moreover, Fang et al demonstrated that patients affected by VETC-positive HCC benefit more from sorafenib therapy. Interestingly, this type of angiogenesis was also found in renal cell carcinoma, adrenal gland pheochromocytoma, thyroid follicular carcinoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and associated to prognosis. Moreover, the distinction between benign and malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland is a complex matter, being the established criteria still lacking a strong reproducibility. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors are available for different cancer types; among them, HCC, RCC, ASPS, and TC may benefit from the so-called antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (aTKI) (such as sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib). A general (histotype-independent) validation of the prognostic role of VETC is missing. Moreover, inhibitors of tyrosine-kinase vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR-TKI), represent an effective treatment for different cancer types, but predictive markers are still needed. In addition, novel systemic immunotherapy agents are being approved in many cancer types, as alternative to angiogenesis inhibitors. A broader frame including metastatic mechanisms, tumor microenvironment (TME, i.e. angiogenesis and immune infiltrate) and treatment response could answer to several needs currently unmet. Bayesian networks and causal models can be employed to effectively draw conclusions from retrospective data. The aim of the present study is to investigate in patients with RCC and adrenal carcinoma (AC) the VETC-expression on tumor tissue, correlating the results with clinical data, patients characteristics, and outcome.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for all trials
Started Jan 2021
Shorter than P25 for all trials
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
November 30, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 14, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 2, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
February 1, 2021
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
May 1, 2021
CompletedFebruary 12, 2021
February 1, 2021
1 month
November 30, 2020
February 9, 2021
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
VETC in RCC and AC.
To identify the expression of VETC in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Adrenal Carcinoma.
2-3 months
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Predictive VETC (OS)
2-3 months
Predictive VETC (PFS)
2-3 months
Predictive VETC (control)
2-3 months
Study Arms (2)
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
For all series, clinical and epidemiological features will be recorded, all available histological slides will be reviewed and, on the primary tumor slides, histological characteristics will be re-assessed. Whenever multiple samples of tumors would be present, those having the tumor-surrounding tissue interface will be selected and stained with CD34 antibody. VETC will be evaluated independently by, at least, two pathologists, blinded to clinical data. VETC will be recorded as positive or negative, being VETC defined as CD34 unequivocal immunoreactivity of a continuous lining of endothelial cells around tumor clusters. VETC will be considered alternative to the common capillary pattern, consisting in small circular or linear blood vessels.
Adrenal carcinoma
see (RCC)
Interventions
We will evaluate VETC presence on tissue specimens
Eligibility Criteria
In order to evaluate VETC effects on prognosis, this study will include series of patients who underwent surgery at our institution for RCC (from 2005 to 2007) and for adrenal carcinoma (2000-2018). Moreover, to investigate the possible role of TME, in particular of VETC, in predicting TKIs benefit, this study will consider series of RCC, selected from a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with first line TKIs at our center. Estimated sample size: 160 patients for RCC and 20 patients for AC.
You may qualify if:
- Histological diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma;
- Histological diagnosis of Carcinoma of the adrenal gland;
- Availability of histological material;
- For the evaluation of the prognostic role: no systemic treatment with TKI administered before surgery.
You may not qualify if:
- Unavailable histological material;
- For RCC: histological diagnosis different from Clear Cell histotype.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital
Rozzano, MI, 20089, Italy
Related Publications (36)
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Biospecimen
Formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks from biopsies or surgical procedures.
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Salvatore L Renne, MD
Humanitas Clinical and Reseach Hospital
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- RETROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
November 30, 2020
First Posted
December 14, 2020
Study Start
January 2, 2021
Primary Completion
February 1, 2021
Study Completion
May 1, 2021
Last Updated
February 12, 2021
Record last verified: 2021-02
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- as soon as the data are uploaded they will be public indefinitely
- Access Criteria
- public
Custom code and data will be uploaded during the study in a github repository