Re: Serum tissue factor as biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma: a comment

To the editor,

We read the publication on “Serum tissue factor (TF) as a biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma”. Silva et al. noted that “TF appears to be a useful serum marker for the presence of clear cell RCC (¹)”. Indeed, to conclude that TF is an important biomarker, there should be a complete evaluation on this diagnostic test. Sensitivity and specificity should be studied. Also, some confounding medical disorders such as cardiovascular problem or hemoglobin disorder can affect TF level (², ³). The conclusion that the TF is a useful biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma by Silva et al. might be too early. Nevertheless, if the diagnostic property of TF is acceptable, there is still the left question of its cost effectiveness.

References

• ¹
  Silva DD, Noronha JAP, Pinheiro da Costa BE, Zandona PCE, Carvalhal GF. Serum tissue factor as a biomarker for renal clear cell carcinoma. Int Braz J Urol. 2018;44:38-44.
• ²
  Keller TT, Choi D, Nagel C, Te Velthuis H, Gerdes VE, Wareham NJ, Bingham SA, Luben R, Hack CE, Reitsma PH, Levi M, Khaw KT, Boekholdt SM. Tissue factor serum levels and the risk of future coronary artery disease in apparently healthy men and women: the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study. J Thromb Haemost. 2006;4:2391-6. Erratum in: J Thromb Haemost. 2006;4:2742. Choi, D [added].
• ³
  Mohan JS, Lip GY, Wright J, Bareford D, Blann AD. Plasma levels of tissue factor and soluble E-selectin in sickle cell disease: relationship to genotype and to inflammation. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2005;16:209-14.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Feb 2018

History

• Received
  01 Sept 2017
• Accepted
  19 Oct 2017