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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
A Soluble Tetrazolium-Based Reduction Assay to Evaluate the Effect of Antibodies on Candida tropicalis Biofilms
Published on: September 16, 2022
Serum IgG against Candida predict survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Reinhold Ramoner1, Andrea Rahm, Claudia E Falkensammer
1Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Urology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 66a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Background And Aim:
In contrast to hematologic malignancies, little is known about the role of fungi in the development and progression of solid tumors. This prompted us to analyze and correlate serum levels of different fungal IgG with survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Patients And Methods:
Serum IgG to Candida sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus fumigatus were measured in a cross-sectional study in 64 patients with advanced disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were chosen to study serum IgG as prognostic indicators.
Results:
Median follow-up was 29.0 months (range 0.3-122). Median overall survival of patients, which tested negative for Candida IgG, was significantly increased (median not reached, >29 months) compared with Candida IgG positive patients (17.8 months, P = 0.002). Median survival of Saccharomyces IgG negative patients was 33.1 months as opposed to 19.4 months in Saccharomyces IgG positive patients, although this difference was not significant (P = 0.281). No difference in overall survival was found between Aspergillus IgG positive patients (28.0 months) and Aspergillus IgG negative patients (29.1 months) (P = 0.181). Cox backward-stepwise regression confirmed Candida IgG as the strongest predictor of survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients (risk ratio 3.27, P = 0.001, [95% CI 1.86-5.73]).
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that IgG antibodies directed against yeast fungi and particularly against Candida but not against mold fungi have prognostic relevance.
Insights
Antibodies against Candida yeast, but not mold fungi, are linked to survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. Higher Candida IgG levels correlated with significantly shorter survival, indicating prognostic value.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Mycology
Background:
- The role of fungal infections in solid tumor progression is largely unknown, unlike in hematologic malignancies.
- This study investigates the association between fungal immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum levels and patient survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and correlate serum levels of fungal IgG antibodies with survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
- To determine the prognostic significance of IgG antibodies against Candida sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus fumigatus in mRCC.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 64 patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
- Serum IgG levels against Candida sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus fumigatus were measured.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses, including Cox regression, were employed to assess the prognostic indicators.
Main Results:
- Patients negative for Candida IgG had significantly longer median overall survival (>29 months) compared to those positive (17.8 months).
- While Saccharomyces IgG negativity showed a trend towards longer survival, the difference was not statistically significant.
- No significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients positive or negative for Aspergillus IgG.
- Candida IgG was identified as the strongest predictor of survival in mRCC patients (HR 3.27, P=0.001).
Conclusions:
- IgG antibodies targeting yeast fungi, particularly Candida, demonstrate prognostic relevance in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
- Antibodies against mold fungi, such as Aspergillus, do not appear to have prognostic value in this patient cohort.
- These findings highlight the potential role of specific fungal immune responses in cancer progression and survival.