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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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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
RET protein expression in papillary renal cell carcinoma
Richard Flavin1, Stephen P Finn, Toni K Choueiri
1Department of Histopathology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Urologic Oncology
|March 15, 2011
Summary
RET protein expression is present in over half of papillary renal cell carcinomas (RCC) and is linked to lower tumor grade. This suggests RET may play a role in papillary RCC development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Uropathology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant health concern.
- The role of RET proto-oncogene in renal malignancies requires further elucidation.
- Papillary RCC is a distinct subtype with unique biological characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and potential role of RET protein in various renal tumors, with a focus on papillary RCC.
- To correlate RET expression with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes in renal cell carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess RET protein expression in 111 archival renal tissue samples.
- The cohort included papillary RCC, clear cell RCC, chromophobe RCC, oncocytomas, and normal kidney tissues.
- RET expression levels were statistically correlated with tumor grade and patient survival data.
Main Results:
- RET protein expression was detected in 52% of papillary RCCs, 40% of chromophobe RCCs, 100% of oncocytomas, and 85% of normal kidney tissues.
- Notably, conventional clear cell carcinoma cases exhibited negative RET staining.
- RET expression was significantly associated with a lower Fuhrman nuclear grade in renal tumors.
Conclusions:
- RET protein expression may contribute to the papillary growth pattern observed in certain renal malignancies.
- The findings suggest a potential functional relevance of RET in papillary RCC.
- Further research into RET activation and targeted therapies, such as small molecule inhibitors, is warranted for papillary RCC.
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