Detection of tumor angiogenesis factor in adenocarcinoma of kidney.

Implantation of human renal adenocarcinoma in the rabbit cornea has resulted in new vascular growth from the limbus toward the tumor implant. This suggests that renal adenocarcinoma elaborates tumor angiogenesis factor (TAF) which stimulates endothelial cell growth. Such a substance could conceivably be responsible for the luxuriant vascularity of most renal adenocarcinomas. Conversely, absence or diminished secretion of TAF may be responsible for the hypovascular papillary renal adenocarcinomas and their recognized relatively benign clinical behavior.