A recent study published in Targeted Oncology last month investigates the role of an enzyme called γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) as a potential biomarker for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

High levels of GGT in the blood has been linked with poor survival in various cancers; however, there are no data for metastatic RCC patients. This study assessed the role of GGT in patients with metastatic RCC and looked at the link between the levels of GGT in the blood and the levels in renal cancer cells.

There is evidence to suggest that GGT promotes the growth of RCC cells through regulating the metabolism of an amino acid called  cysteine, which is important for the synthesis of protein and the growth of cells.

In conclusion, high levels of GGT in the blood indicated an unfavourable prognosis in patients with metastatic RCC, and high levels of GGT in renal cancer cells might be responsible for high levels of GGT in the blood. Although this study is limited because it is retrospective, it suggests that GGT could help to predict prognosis in metastatic RCC patients.

Read more in Targeted Oncology here