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The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
Published on: January 22, 2013
Diagnosis of renal cancer by molecular urinalysis
C F Eisenberger1, M Schoenberg, C Enger
1(Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute), The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA.
Background:
Organ-confined renal malignancies can be cured in the majority of patients, whereas more extensive lesions have a poor prognosis. We sought to develop a noninvasive test for renal cancer detection based on a novel molecular approach.
Methods:
Matched urine and serum DNA samples were obtained before surgery from 30 patients with clinically organ-confined solid renal masses (25 with malignant tumors and five with tumors of low malignant potential) and were subjected to microsatellite analysis. Serum samples and urine samples obtained from 16 individuals without clinical evidence of genitourinary malignancy served as controls.
Results:
Nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients with malignant tumors were found to have one or more microsatellite DNA alterations in their urine specimen, and 15 (60%) were found to have alterations in their serum DNA by microsatellite analysis. In every case, the microsatellite changes in urine or serum were identical to those found in the primary tumor. Three of five patients with tumors of low malignant potential were found to have DNA alterations in their urine, but none displayed alterations in their serum. Moreover, microsatellite alterations were not identified in either the urine or the serum samples from normal control subjects and patients with hematuria due to nephrolithiasis (renal stones).
Conclusion:
These data suggest that microsatellite DNA analysis of urine specimens provides a potentially valuable tool for the early detection of resectable kidney cancer. Furthermore, microsatellite analysis of serum samples reveals evidence of circulating tumor-specific DNA in approximately half of these patients and may reflect the propensity of these tumors to spread to distant sites at an early stage.
Insights
Analyzing urine and serum DNA for microsatellite alterations offers a promising noninvasive method for early kidney cancer detection. This molecular approach identifies tumor-specific DNA changes, aiding in diagnosis and potentially predicting disease spread.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Urology
Background:
- Organ-confined renal malignancies are curable, but extensive lesions have a poor prognosis.
- A novel molecular approach was investigated for noninvasive renal cancer detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a noninvasive test for renal cancer detection using microsatellite DNA analysis.
- To assess the utility of urine and serum DNA analysis for identifying kidney tumors.
Main Methods:
- Microsatellite analysis was performed on urine and serum DNA samples from 30 patients with renal masses and 16 controls.
- Samples were collected pre-surgery from patients with malignant tumors or tumors of low malignant potential.
Main Results:
- 76% of malignant tumors showed microsatellite DNA alterations in urine; 60% showed alterations in serum.
- Alterations in urine or serum DNA matched those in the primary tumor.
- No microsatellite alterations were found in controls or patients with kidney stones.
Conclusions:
- Urine microsatellite DNA analysis is a potentially valuable tool for early kidney cancer detection.
- Serum microsatellite analysis may indicate tumor propensity for early spread.
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