Prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma
Study will address a cohort of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Two patient populations will be studied: locally advanced disease with high risk of micrometastic disease and systemic progression following surgery with curative intent; clinically evident metastatic disease treated with sytemic therapy. following initial pilot study to demonstrate feasibility, a prospective evaluation of the number of CTC/CeC will be undertaken for correlation with prognosis after surgery, and reponse to systemic therapy. ultimately, therapuetic decisions with regards to necessity and specifics of adjuvant, neoadjuvant or salvage therapies can be derived based on number of CTC/CeC.
Both male and female, 18 years of age x 80 years of age, Renal Cell Carcinoma (>pT2 and/or N+ and/or M+) treated with surgery and/or targeted systemic therapy.