Circulating endothelial cells and progenitors: potential biomarkers of renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and progenitors (CEPs) between tumour-bearing mice and healthy controls, in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) xenograft models. The secondary objective was to correlate CEC and CEP levels with tumour variables such as tumour volume, weight and vascularity, indicators of disease severity.

Materials And Methods: Two human RCC xenograft models were used.