伴静脉瘤栓的肾癌中干扰素基因刺激因子 (STING) 免疫组化表达升高与更差预后相关

Background/Objectives : We focused on the expression of a novel immune marker, cytoplasmic stimulator of interferon genes (STING), in the cohort of primary renal cell cancer (RCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT), in conjunction with the assessment of tumor-infiltrating leucocytes (TILs). Methods : The study group comprised 82 patients with clear cell RCC and VTT, operated on in the years 2012-2019 in two university urological centers. Tissue microarrays were constructed, and respective antibodies were used for staining purposes. The biomarkers were analyzed in primary RCC and VTT. Results : The frequency of STING expression in both analyzed compartments was similar ( p = 0. 18). Its presence correlated with no clinicopathological features but for necrosis in VTT only ( p = 0. 0023).

PD-L1 expression in the primary tumor was associated with STING in tumor cells in the same compartment ( p = 0. 02). On the contrary, VISTA expression was correlated with the presence of STING in VTT. TIL presence was associated with positive PD-L1 ( p = 0. 008) and STING ( p < 0. 05) expression in the primary tumor. Strong STING expression in VTT was associated with inferior overall survival (OS) ( p = 0. 0061).

TIL presence emerged as a robust prognostic factor for OS in both primary tumor ( p = 0. 021) and VTT ( p = 0. 034). Conclusions : We presented for the first time the prognostic values of STING in a contemporary cohort of RCC patients with VTT. STING expression in VTT showed prognostic potential, while TIL assessment proved to be a particularly valuable prognostic tool that can be readily implemented in routine pathological evaluation.