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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
12:22

The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers

Published on: January 22, 2013

Expression of KIT (CD117) in renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma

Stefan Krüger1, Karl Sotlar, Ingo Kausch

  • 1Institute of Pathology, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. krueger@patho.uni-luebeck.de

Oncology
|July 15, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

KIT (CD117) expression is a key marker for oncocytomas and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). This finding aids in distinguishing chromophobe RCC from other RCC types, potentially guiding imatinib mesylate therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Pathology

Background:

  • KIT (CD117) is a tyrosine kinase receptor overexpressed in various tumors.
  • Some KIT-expressing tumors respond to imatinib mesylate therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate KIT expression in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and oncocytomas using immunohistochemistry.
  • To assess the diagnostic utility of KIT expression in differentiating RCC subtypes.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of KIT expression in 61 RCCs and 13 oncocytomas.
  • Semiquantitative assessment of cytoplasmic and membrane-bound KIT staining.
  • Analysis of c-kit exon 17 for mutations in a subset of cases.

Main Results:

  • Oncocytomas and chromophobe RCCs consistently showed membrane-bound KIT positivity.
  • Other RCC types were predominantly KIT negative.
  • No 'gain-of-function' c-kit mutations, such as D816V, were detected.

Conclusions:

  • KIT expression is a characteristic feature of oncocytoma and chromophobe RCC.
  • Immunohistochemical KIT analysis can help differentiate chromophobe RCC from other RCC subtypes.
  • KIT expression in chromophobe RCC, without specific c-kit mutations, suggests potential efficacy of imatinib mesylate therapy in advanced cases.

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