肿瘤患者内源性TNF的研究

肿瘤坏死因子对肿瘤的作用，目前尚未完全阐明。近几年的研究表明，肿瘤组织表达ＴＮＦ基因及ＴＮＦ蛋白，肿瘤患者血清ＴＮＦ水平升高，ＴＮＦ与肿瘤的发生和发展有关，内源性ＴＮＦ的测定对肿瘤的诊断及预后判断的一定价值，进一步研究内源性ＴＮＦ的产生及其作用机制对肿瘤ＴＮＦ免疫治疗将具有重要的指导意义。     

Fas mRNA在泌尿系肿瘤组织中的表达

目的 了解Ｆａｓ ｍＲＮＡ在泌尿系肿瘤组织中的表达情况。方法 采用逆转录ＰＣＲ（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）法检测３７例泌尿系恶性肿瘤组织中Ｆａｓ ｍＲＮＡ的表达，其中肾癌２１例，膀胱癌１１例、肾盂癌４例，前列腺肉瘤１例；原位杂交法检测３４例肾癌和１９例癌旁正常肾组织中Ｆａｓ ｍＲＮＡ的表达。结果 ３７例肿瘤组织中检出Ｆａｓ ｍＲＮＡ阳性表达共２０例，阳性率为５４％，阳性表达组织中未发现有缺失突变的存在。其中肾     

肾移植早期动态监测血清及尿液肿瘤坏死因子水平及其临床 …

目的：研究肾移植早期血清及尿液肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）水平及其临床意义。方法：分组及动态监测５５例肾移植患者早期血清及尿液ＴＮＦ水平。结果：术后３ｄ血清和尿液ＴＮＦ均明显升高，与术前和术后其他各组比较，Ｐ〈０．０１。血清和尿液ＴＮＦ在手术１周后均显著下降，但血清ＴＮＦ水平仍高于术前，尿液ＴＮＦ水平低于术前。血清ＴＮＦ水平在发生急性排斥反应时显著增高，术后平稳组及急性肾功能衰竭组无明显变化。急性排斥反     

谷胱甘肽S—转移酶与膀胱癌关系的研究

目的：探讨谷胱甘肽S－转移酶（GST）与膀胱癌的关系。方法：检测58例膀胱癌患者（膀胱癌组）、80例泌尿系非肿瘤患者（泌尿系非肿瘤组）和40例正常对照者（正常对照组）血清中GST活性及24例膀胱癌患者癌组织、配对癌周正常组织和13例正常膀胱组织中GST活性。结果：膀胱癌组织血清中GST活性明显高于泌尿系非肿瘤组和正常对照组（P＜0．01）,泌尿系非肿瘤组与正常对照组之间GST活性差异无显著性意义（P＞0．05）,膀胱癌组癌组织中GST活性明显高于癌周正常组织及正常膀胱组织（P＜0．01）,癌周正常组织与正常膀胱组织之间,GST活性差异无显著性意义（P＞0．05）。各级和各期膀胱癌之间血清中 GST活性及各级膀胱癌组织之间GST活性差异均无显著性意义（P＞0．05）,而Ⅱ-Ⅳ期膀膛癌周期组织中GST活性较I期增高（P＜0．05）。结论：膀胱癌患者GST活性明显增高,GST活性在癌组织中随着癌分期的增高而增加,提示GST与膀胱癌的发生及发展有关。     

生长抑素与肾癌的关系及肿瘤坏死因子的影响

为探索肾癌生物治疗的新途径，将肾癌细胞接种于裸鼠背部皮下，荷瘤裸鼠随机分为３个ＴＮＦ组及２个对照组。给药后第３天取血０５～０８ｍｌ，及移植瘤、瘤旁及正常组织各１ｇ，放射免疫法测定组织标本中生长抑素（ＳＳ）浓度。结果：肿瘤组织、对照组肿瘤旁、正常组织中ＳＳ浓度（ｐｇ／ｍｌ）依次为０．６７３、０９００、０５１４；ＴＮＦ组分别为０．７９１、０８７０、１０４３。结论：肾癌生长（对照组）时瘤旁组织中ＳＳ浓度最高，而肿瘤及正常组织中较低，提示瘤旁组织具有抑制肿瘤生长的作用。应用ＴＮＦ后ＳＳ含量以正常组织中最高，瘤旁及肿瘤组织较低。表明ＴＮＦ不但对肿瘤有直接杀伤作用，而且能促进机体增强抑制肿瘤生长、扩散作用。     

肾移植术后监测血清、尿液和肾组织液中肿瘤坏死因子的临床意义

为探讨肾移植术后肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦα）在移植肾排斥反应（ＡＲ）诊断与鉴别诊断中的意义，采用液相竞争放射免疫法动态监测６０例肾移植患者术后血清、尿液及肾组织液中ＴＮＦα水平的变化。结果：ＡＲ组ＴＮＦα水平在血清、尿液及肾组织液中均显著升高，以肾组织液中升高最明显，比临床症状的出现早１～２天；ＣｓＡ肾中毒组ＴＮＦα水平轻度升高，但无统计学意义；急性肾小管环死（ＡＴＮ）组肾组织液及尿液中ＴＮＦα水平均显著升高；急性感染组仅血清中ＴＮＦα水平显著升高。结论：动态监测血清、尿液和肾组织液中ＴＮＦα水平能较好地早期诊断和鉴别诊断ＡＲ、急性感染、ＣｓＡ肾中毒和ＡＴＮ。     

梗阻性黄疸患者肿瘤坏死因子和过氧化脂质变化的临床研究

目的：为了解梗阻性黄疸患者围手术期外周血肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）和脂质过氧化反应的终末产物丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量的变化及其临床意义。方法：采用放射免疫法和比色法测定一组梗阻性黄疸患者手术前后血清ＴＮＦ和ＭＤＡ的水平，并与对照组比较。结果：（１）梗黄组术前血清ＴＮＦ和ＭＤＡ含量均明显高于对照组，且发现ＴＮＦ、ＭＤＡ随胆红素增高而升高。（２）梗黄术后短期内ＴＮＦ和ＭＤＡ仍维持较高水平，退黄后可恢复正常。（     

肝硬变门脉高压症患者血清肿瘤坏死因子α水平的变化及其

目的 探讨肿瘤坏死因子α（ＴＮＦ－α）在肝硬变门脉高压症（ＰＨＴ）发病中的作用，方法 本研究采用ＭＴＴ法测定对照组、肝硬变ＰＨＴ患者外周血血清ＴＮＦ－α水平并观察它与不同程度肝功能损害的关系。结果 肝变ＰＨＴ患者血清ＴＮＦ－α水平显著高于对照组，其中ＣｈｉｌｄＣ级ＴＮＦ－α水平较ＣｈｉｌｄＢ级显著升高，ＣｈｉｌｄＢ级又显著高于ＣｈｉｌｄＡ级。结论ＴＮＦ－α既参一肝硬变ＰＨＴ的形成，同时又是一种肝损     

重症急性胰腺炎大鼠肿瘤坏死因子产生及吸收效应的研究

目的：探索重症急性胰腺炎（ＳＡＰ）大鼠肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）产生及吸收的部位，以及ＴＮＦ与内毒素（ＣＥＴ）之间的关系。方法：采用逆行加压注入５％牛磺脱氧胆酸钠溶液复制ＳＡＰ，采取门静脉、肝静脉及股动脉血，检测其血清ＴＮＦ含量和门静脉血浆ＥＴ含量。结果：在ＳＡＰ发展过程中门静脉血清ＴＮＦ含量迅速升高；在６小时时肝静脉、股动脉血清ＴＮＦ含量低于门静脉血清ＴＮＦ含量（Ｐ〈０．０５）；但股动脉血清ＴＮＦ含     

肾移植术后监测血清,尿液和肾组织液中肿瘤坏死因子的临床…

为探讨肾移植术后肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ－α）在移植肾排斥反应（ＡＲ）诊断与鉴别诊断中的意义，采用液相竞争放射免疫法动态监测６０例肾移植患者术后血清，尿液及肾组织液中ＴＮＦ－α水平的变化。结果：ＡＲ组ＴＮＦ－α水平在血清，尿液及肾组织液中均显著升高，以肾组织液中升高最明显，比临床症状出现早１～２天，ＣｓＡ肾中毒组ＴＮＦ－α水平轻度升高，但无统计学意义；急性肾小管环死（ＡＴＮ）组肾组织液及尿液中ＴＮＦ－     

α-FR在肾细胞癌及膀胱癌患者血清中的表达水平及其临床意义

目的 探讨α-FR(α型叶酸受体)在肾细胞癌及膀胱癌患者血清中的表达水平及其临床意义.方法 选取在本院经组织病理学确诊的肾细胞癌患者58例和膀胱癌患者42例,选取同期在本院健康体检的志愿者40例作为对照组,比较3组研究对象血清中的α-FR表达水平的差异.比较肾细胞癌和膀胱癌患者不同病理参数间血清中α-FR表达水平的差异.结果 肾细胞癌患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(87.39±47.15) pg/mL和膀胱癌患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(84.52±45.68) pg/mL均高于正常对照组(1.45±0.73) pg/mL,且差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).肾细胞癌和膀胱癌患者血清中的α-FR表达水平无统计学差异(P＞0.05).肾细胞癌TNM分期为Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期的患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(67.39±39.63)pg/mL低于TNM分期为Ⅲ期和Ⅵ期的患者(125.32±68.22) pg/mL,肾细胞癌高分化的患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(155.29 ±75.31) pg/mL高于中低分化的患者(78.85±42.68)pg/mL,且差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05);膀胱癌TNM分期为Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期的患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(84.71±53.64) pg/mL低于TNM分期为Ⅲ期和Ⅵ期的患者(157.92±88.34) pg/mL,膀胱癌高分化的患者血清中的α-FR表达水平(145.31±65.87) pg/mL高于中低分化的患者(79.64±48.22) pg/mL,且差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 血清中α-FR表达水平可作为肾细胞癌和膀胱癌诊断的肿瘤标志物.     

肾移植术后并发泌尿系统恶性肿瘤22例

目的 分析肾移植受者泌尿系统恶性肿瘤的发病情况,并探讨其发病机理及治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析1978年至2010年12月间肾移植受者发生泌尿系统恶性肿瘤22例的资料.结果 22例的病理检查结果分别为膀胱移行上皮细胞癌9例(其中1例第3次手术后发现转化为腺癌),膀胱鳞状细胞癌1例,膀胱腺癌1例,肾透明细胞癌3例(其中2例为双侧肾癌),肾低分化癌1例,肾盂移行细胞癌1例,肾盂+膀胱移行细胞癌1例,输尿管移行细胞癌2例,输尿管+膀胱移行细胞癌2例,输尿管移行细胞癌+膀胱腺癌1例.肾癌及输尿管癌均发生在患者原肾及输尿管.11例膀胱癌患者中9例存活,均保有全部或部分肾功能;4例肾癌患者均在发病后半年内死亡;肾盂癌、输尿管癌除2例术后早期死亡外,其余5例存活.22例发现肿瘤后1年存活率为73.7%.结论 肾移植后泌尿系统恶性肿瘤可见少见的病理类型.治疗中应注意免疫抑制剂的使用和移植肾功能保护的问题.肾实质性恶性肿瘤预后很差.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the incidence of urological malignancy in renal allograft recipients and explore the mechanism of increased incidence in China and the management. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 22 patients with urological malignancy in renal allograft recipients between 1978 and 2010. Results Twenty-two cases of urological malignancy were diagnosed by pathologic evidence, including 9 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of bladder, 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma of bladder, 1 case of adenocarcinoma of bladder, 1 case of TCC of pelvis, 1 case of TCC of bladder and pelvis, 1 case of TCC of ureter complicated with adenocarcinoma of bladder, 2 cases of TCC of ureter, 2 cases of TCC of ureter and bladder, 3 cases of clear cell carcinoma of kidney, and 1 case of undifferentiated carcinoma of kidney. All the malignancies belonged to native organs. All the patients suffering bladder cancer had normal function of allograft. Five patients with TCC of pelvis or ureter survived and 2 cases died early after operation. All the patients suffering renal carcinoma deceased within 6 months after diagnosis. One-year survival rate was 73. 7 % after the diagnosis of urological malignancy. Conclusion Urological malignancy ranked highest in malignancy in renal allograft recipients, and rare pathological types of urological malignancy in non-renal allograft recipients are often demonstrated. The strategy of treatment should take consideration of the relationship between the usage of immunosupressive agents and the preservation of allograft function. It is critical for the therapy of malignancies to possess satisfactory allograft function. The prognosis of renal cell carcinoma is poor.     

Effect of Surgical Stress on Immune Function in Patients with Urologic Cancer

Background: To determine the immunosuppressive effect of surgery for urologic cancers, multiple variables of immune function were measured serially before and after operation in patients with urologic cancer.
Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained before operation and at postoperative day 7 and 14 from 20 patients with bladder cancer, renal pelvic, or ureteral cancer, or renal cell carcinoma.
Results: In patients with bladder cancer who were undergoing radical cystectomy with use of intestine for urinary diversion, the serum level of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) increased, and serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and IgM decreased after operation. In contrast, the number of CD25+ lymphocytes significantly increased. Transurethral resection of bladder cancer also resulted in an increase in serum IAP level, however, the number of CD4+ and human leukocyte-associated HLA-DR+ lymphocytes increased. In patients with renal pelvic or ureteral cancer undergoing nephroureterectomy with cuff, the level of serum IAP increased and serum IgG level decreased after operation. By contrast, the number of CD3+ lymphocytes increased. In patients with renal cell carcinoma, radical nephrectomy led to a significant increase in the number of CD8+ lymphocytes.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that surgical stress in patients with urologic cancer may result in both suppression and stimulation of host immunity.     

肿瘤坏死因子与可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体在膀胱肿瘤中的表达

目的探讨肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）和可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体（STNFR）与膀胱肿瘤生物学行为的关系。方法测定26例膀优移行细胞癌患者和20例正常对照者血清中TNF和STNFR水平。结果发现膀胱肿瘤患者血TNF水平与对照组相比差异无显著性（P＞0．05）,而STNFR水平显著高于对照组（P＜0．001）,并随着临床分期的增加而升高,巨术后2周时显著下降（P＜001）;TNF与STNFR水平之间无显著相关关系。结论STNFR抑制了TNF生物学活性而降低了机体的免疫功能,并可作为评估病情严重程度和预后的指标。     

Anticancer effect of sirolimus in renal allograft recipients with de novo malignancies

The inhibition of mTOR is a target for anticancer drugs in posttransplant malignancies. The influence of conversion to sirolimus after malignancy diagnosis was investigated on patient and renal allograft survivals. The 20 renal allograft recipients (4 women, 16 men) of ages 26 to 73 years (mean, 59 years) developed malignancies within 6 to 172 months (mean, 53 months) after transplantation. Three patients developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD); four, Kaposi sarcoma, three, lung cancer; two, malignant melanoma; two, breast cancer; two, renal cell carcinoma; one, Merkel cell carcinoma; one, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; one, larynx cancer; and one, gingival cancer. After tumor diagnosis, calcineurin inhibitors, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were discontinued abruptly and sirolimus introduced (2 mg/d; target trough level, 4.0 to 8.0 ng/mL). Prednisone was maintained. The observation time of sirolimus therapy was 4 to 48 months (mean, 14 months). Two patients with PTLD (large B-cell lymphoma) and four with Kaposi sarcoma had full regressions. Eleven patients (larynx cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, T-cell lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and skin lymphoma) in addition to sirolimus therapy, underwent oncologic treatment, namely, surgery and/or chemotherapy. Six patients died from disseminated malignancy 4 to 9 months after conversion. One patient with T-cell lymphoma lost his graft; in the remaining patients, serum creatinine level was stable. In conclusion, Conversion to sirolimus resulted in regression of large B-cell lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma. In patients with advanced or disseminated malignancy, the tumors progressed. Graft function was preserved after conversion to sirolimus.     

Obesity surgery and malignancy: our experience after 1500 cases

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and is associated with increased mortality from a number of malignancies. We describe our experience with bariatric surgery patients with a history of malignancy and review the safety and outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with a history of cancer. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from all patients diagnosed with a malignancy before, during, or after bariatric surgery. Data on weight loss, co-morbidities, and recurrence were collected. RESULTS: From July 1999 to February 2008, 1566 patients underwent bariatric surgery. Of these 1566 patients, 36 (2.3%) had a history of malignancy before they underwent bariatric evaluation and surgery, 4 (0.26%) were diagnosed with a malignancy during their preoperative evaluation, 2 of whom subsequently underwent bariatric surgery, and 2 had intraoperative findings suspicious for malignancy; bariatric surgery was completed in both cases. The evaluation revealed renal cell carcinoma and low-grade lymphoma, respectively. No procedures were aborted because of a suspicion of malignancy. Postoperatively, 16 patients (0.9%) were diagnosed with cancer, 3 of whom had a history of malignancy: 1 with metastatic renal cell, 1 with recurrent melanoma, and 1, who had had prostate cancer, with bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: A history of malignancy does not appear to be a contraindication for bariatric surgery as long as the life expectancy is reasonable. Screening for bariatric surgery might reveal the malignancy. Bariatric surgery does not seem to have a negative effect on the treatment of malignancies that are discovered in the postoperative period.     

Epidemiology of urothelial carcinoma

The epithelium lining is defined as the mucosal surfaces of the renal collecting tubules, calyces and pelvis, as well as the ureter, bladder and urethra. The term “urothelium” is used to refer to these surfaces. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma is a rare subset of urothelial cancers with a poor prognosis. Urinary bladder cancer is the most common malignancy involving the urinary system. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma is more common in men than in women, with a male‐to‐female ratio of 2:1. The incidence of urinary bladder cancer is also higher in men. Cigarette smoking and occupational exposure are the main upper tract urothelial carcinoma and urinary bladder cancer risk factors, while other factors are more specific to the carcinogenesis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (i.e. Balkan endemic nephropathy, Chinese herb nephropathy). In Egypt until recent years, urinary bladder cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer due to Schistosoma haematobium. Substantial knowledge exists regarding the causes of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and urinary bladder cancer, and epidemiological studies have identified various chemical carcinogens that are believed to be responsible for most cases of urothelial carcinoma. In the era of precision medicine, genetic effects might play a direct role in the initiation and progression of urothelial carcinoma.     

Study on malignancy of end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy patients in Wenzhou area

Objective To investigate the features of malignancy in end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) patients undergoing renal replacement therapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenhou Medical University. Methods One hundred and two patients diagnosed as end-stage AAN during 2004 to 2013 were enrolled in the study, and separately udergoing hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation, to study the features of the malignancy and its risk factors. Results (1) There were totally 42 AAN patients suffering from malignancy, and 39 of them had urinary cancer. Eight cases of urinary cancer had metastasis, and 11 cases of bladder cancer had repeated recurrences. Patients suffering from malignancy had an increased mortality compared to patients without malignancy(13/42 vs 7/60, P=0.022). (2) Thirteenmalignacy cases were diagnosed before the end-stage of AAN, the rest cases appeared in 1-13 years[(4.62±3.31) years] after renal replacement. (3) A further logistic regression analysis of the 29 maligancy patients after renal replacement showed that, the dose of aristolochic acid (counted by Mutong) was the only risk factor of malignancy (P=0.091), compared with the dose of Mutong less than 60 g, the patients with an accumulated dose of Mutong more than 200 g had a 4.26 folds（95%CI 1.02, 17.83）higher risk of malignancy. There was no statistic difference of the malignancy risk among different renal replacement therapies, which however might influence the pathogenic sites of the urinary cancer. The simple bladder cancer was the most common malignancy among the hemodialysis patients (72.72%), and the upper urinary tract cancer among the peritoneal dialysis patients (66.67%), while the complex of both were dominant among the renal transplantation patients(40.00%). Conclusions Among the end-stage of AAN patients undergoing renal replacement therapy in Wenzhou area, the incidence of urinary cancer is high, with a character of complex, multiple and repeated recurrences. The occurence of malignancy seems to be separated from the renal function, but turns out obviously dose-dependent. There was no statisticaldifference of cancer risk among hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplantation, which may induce different pathogenic sites of the urinary cancer.     

Synchronous triple urogenital cancer (renal cancer,bladder cancer,prostatic cancer): a case report

A case of synchronous triple urogenital cancer, which was comprised of renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney, transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, and adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is reported. A 72-year-old Japanese male patient was referred to our outpatient clinic with the complaint of asymptomatic hematuria. At that time, his serum of level of PSA was elevated to 20 ng/ml. Cystourethroscopy showed a papillary bladder tumor and coagula through the left urinary orifice. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion measuring about 6 cm by 5 cm in the left kidney. Angiography showed a hypervascular lesion measuring about 6 cm by 5 cm at the same site. Double cancer, consisting of renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, was suspected and we performed left total nephroureterectomy, hilar lymphadenectomy, and transurethral rection of the bladder tumor, one month later. At the same time, we performed a biopsy of the prostate. Histological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder. Histological diagnosis of the prostate biopsy was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Since this case fulfilled the criteria of Warren and Gates, it was classified as synchronous triple urogenital cancer. A review of the literature revealed 17 authentic cases of triple urogenital cancer, of which 14 and 10 cases were reported as a combination of renal cancer, bladder cancer and prostatic cancer, in the world and in Japan, respectively. Furthermore, he had been exposed to the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima in 1945. This carcinogenic precursor may be related to the development of the triple cancer.     

Serum angiogenic activity: diagnostic relevance in renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and progression. However, reported data on angiogenic parameters in patients with renal cell carcinoma are contradictory. The objective of this study was to use serum to compare the systemic angiogenic activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma and to determine if pathologic stage and grade correlated to this angiogenesis parameter. METHODS: Serum of 28 patients with a newly diagnosed renal cell carcinoma, 28 healthy volunteers and 9 patients with bladder carcinoma were used for this study. All sera were tested in a 72-hour endothelial cell proliferation assay. In addition the serum concentrations of the angiogenesis stimulators basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined using standard ELISA assays. RESULTS: The serum of renal cell carcinoma patients showed a median stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) of 89.79% (range 58.47-147.95%) and serum of healthy volunteers showed a median stimulation of 95.35% (range 74.64-141.77%) (p > 0.05). In contrast serum of patients with bladder carcinoma showed a median stimulation of 140.16% (range 64.82-200.16%) (p = 0.024). No correlations of the serum angiogenic activity and tumor stage or grade have been found in renal cell carcinoma patients. Furthermore, no correlations for serum bFGF and VEGF concentrations have been found. CONCLUSIONS: Serum angiogenic activity of patients with renal cell carcinoma did not differ significantly from healthy controls, while serum of patients with bladder carcinoma showed a significant increase in endothelial cell stimulation. Furthermore, bFGF and VEGF serum concentrations did not correlate to serum angiogenic activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, the determination of systemic angiogenic parameters, in case of renal cell carcinoma, might not lead to adequate data concerning prognosis or therapeutic effects.