March 02, 2026

E32 - Biomarkers for Immunotherapy Response in Kidney Cancer

17 minutes

E32 | 18 min | Latest | Publication Link

Podcast based on: Katifelis, H.; Zerva, S.; Bamias, A.; Karamouzis, M.V.; Stravodimos, K.; Sechi, L.A.; Lampropoulou, D.; Pliakou, E.; Gazouli, M. Circulating ERVFRD-1 and MFSD2A Are Associated with Immunotherapy Response in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancers 2026, 18, 716. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18040716

Type: Article | Publication date: 23 February 2026

Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies have improved outcomes for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC). However, many patients do not respond to treatment. Therefore, reliable biomarkers associated with therapeutic response are urgently needed. Blood-based biomarkers offer a non-invasive alternative to tissue analysis. In this study, we investigated the expression of two immunity-related genes, ERVFRD-1 and MFSD2A, in peripheral blood samples from mccRCC patients receiving PD-1-based treatment. Both genes were dysregulated compared with healthy controls and demonstrated differential baseline expression between patients who achieved clinical benefit and those with progressive disease. Patients with progressive disease exhibited decreased expression of ERVFRD-1 and increased expression of MFSD2A. These findings suggest that ERVFRD-1 and MFSD2A may serve as candidate blood-based biomarkers associated with response to ICI, although confirmation in larger prospective studies is required.

Keywords: ccRCC; immunotherapy; ICIs; PD-1; TKI; ;

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