Molecular pathology and epidemiology of nephrogenic rests and Wilms tumors

Perilobar (PLNR) and intralobar nephrogenic rests (ILNR) are distinct precursor lesions of Wilms tumors that have different structural, clinical, genetic, and epidemiologic features. Wilms tumors in East-Asian children have unique epidemiologic features in that the incidence is about half that of white children, an early age at diagnosis, a male predominance, and an association with ILNR. Loss of IGF2 imprinting is associated with PLNR more commonly seen in Wilms tumors from white children than tumors from children of Asian descent. Therefore, this epigenetic difference and the higher frequency of PLNR provide an explanation for the interethnic variations in the incidence of Wilms tumor. The histopathologic, clinical, and genetic differences between ILNR and PLNR are described in this review, followed by a description of an epigenetic mechanism that underlies PLNR formation and the unique epidemiologic feature of Wilms tumors.