Editorial comment

摘要

Editorial Comment: After a previous phase I study this is the first phase III study testing the diagnostic accuracy of iodine-124 girentuximab positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (CT) in the detection of clear cell (cc) renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The new test uses the chimeric antibody G250 that binds to carbonic anhydrase IX, a cell surface antigen highly expressed in most ccRCC but not in other RCC subtypes. The study is methodologically correct comparing the new test to the standard radiological test (contrast enhanced CT) and to tumor pathology, in this case represented by the surgical specimen. The latter, instead of being a limitation as indicated by the authors, is one of the strongest methodological points of the study. The sample size, corrected after interim analysis, is sufficient to reach statistical significance. Iodine-124 girentuximab positron emission tomography/CT consistently outperformed contrast enhanced CT in sensitivity and specificity in large and small renal masses.