Relationship between PTEN and Livin expression and malignancy of renal cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES This study focused on PTEN and Livin expression and associations with malignancy in human renal clear cell carcinomas (RCCC). METHODS PTEN and Livin expression was assessed in 100 RCCC tissue samples, 50 paracarcinoma cases, and 20 normal renal tissue samples using the immunohistochemical Streptavidin proxidase (SP) method. The relationships between binding and corresponding biological characteristics, such as histological grade, lymph node metastases, and clinical stages were analyzed. RESULTS Positive PTEN expression in RCCC was significantly lower than in renal tissue adjacent to carcinoma tissue and normal renal tissue (P<0.01). Livin expression in the renal tissue adjacent to the carcinoma and normal renal tissues exhibited only low levels, whereas overall Livin expression in RCCC was statistically significant (P<0.01). In RCCC, PTEN expression rate gradually decreased with an increase in clinical stage, whereas that of Livin increased to statistically significant levels (P<0.01), PTEN and Livin levels being negatively correlated (r=-0.395, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS PTEN and Livin are important in RCCC development. The two factors combined are expected to provide indices for estimating RCCC malignancy and progression levels, as well as references for RCCC diagnosis and treatment.