Liposoluble vitamins E and A in human renal cortex and renal cell carcinomas

Vitamin E was quantified in renal cell carcinomas (RCC) and in 'intact' renal cortex, obtained from 31 patients subjected either to unilateral nephrectomy or to partial resection of the only kidney. Histologically, 14 tumors consisted predominantly of clear cells (group 1) and 17 of other cell types (group 2). In both groups, a significant increase in vitamin E concentration, as compared to the 'intact' cortex, was observed: 167.8 +/- 27.9 and 68.2 +/- 15.2 micrograms/g wet tissue weight (mean +/- SEM) for groups 1 and 2, respectively, versus 10.1 +/- 0.53 micrograms/g wet tissue weight for the cortex. Although the total lipid content was also increased in tumors (especially in group 1), the vitamin E concentration in tumor tissue, calculated per milligram of total lipids, proved to be much higher in both groups than in 'intact' cortex. A significant positive correlation was observed between vitamin E and total lipid content in group 1 and 2 carcinomas. It was also found that vitamin E accumulation in RCC is unlikely to be attributed to an enhanced lipid deposit in the tumor cells. Thus, in 8 tumors of group 2 the vitamin E levels were markedly enhanced although these tumors did not differ from the cortex in total lipid concentrations. Vitamin A content determined in 17 carcinomas, when calculated per milligram of total lipids, was the same as in 'intact' cortex.