Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies
06:38

A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies

Published on: April 12, 2017

From development to cancer: lessons from the kidney to uncover new therapeutic targets

Valérian Dormoy1, Didier Jacqmin, Hervé Lang

  • 1INSERM U682, Section of Renal Cancer and Renal Physiopathology, School of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. valerian.dormoy@unistra.fr

Anticancer Research
|September 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Developmental pathways like NOTCH, SHH, and WNT, and transcription factors WT1, PAX2, and LIM1 are re-expressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Inhibiting these factors shows antitumor activity, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Several genes are crucial for human development, and their dysregulation can cause diseases.
  • The neurogenic locus notch homolog protein (NOTCH), sonic Hedgehog (SHH), and wingless-type (WNT) pathways, along with nephrogenic transcription factors Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), paired box 2 (PAX2), and homeobox protein lim-1 (LIM1), are involved in organ development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the expression and roles of NOTCH, SHH, WNT pathways, and WT1, PAX2, LIM1 transcription factors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
  • To explore the potential of these developmental molecules as therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for ccRCC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on gene expression, pathway activity, and therapeutic interventions in ccRCC.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo data regarding the effects of inhibiting key developmental factors in cancer models.

Main Results:

  • NOTCH, SHH, WNT pathways, and WT1, PAX2, LIM1 are re-expressed in ccRCC.
  • Inhibition of these factors demonstrates significant antitumor effects in both in vitro and in vivo settings.
  • These pathways are integral to nephrogenesis, highlighting their role in ccRCC development.

Conclusions:

  • The involvement of developmental pathways in ccRCC growth provides insights into cancer mechanisms.
  • Targeting these re-expressed developmental molecules offers potential for innovative and safe therapies for ccRCC.
  • These molecules may also serve as valuable prognostic markers for ccRCC patients.

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Co-culture of Renal Healthy and Tumor Epithelium to Model Kidney Cancer Progression06:29

Microfluidic Co-culture of Renal Healthy and Tumor Epithelium to Model Kidney Cancer Progression

Published on: January 31, 2025

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...