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Updated: May 14, 2026
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 parafibromin in major renal cell tumors
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Parafibromin, encoded by HRPT2 gene, is a recently identified tumor suppressor. Complete and partial loss of its expression have been observed in hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT), parathyroid carcinoma, breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, gastric and colorectal carcinoma. However, little has been known about its expression in renal tumors. In order to study the expression of parafibromin in a series of the 4 major renal cell tumors - clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) and oncocytoma. One hundred thirty nine renal tumors including 61 ccRCCs, 37 pRCCs, 22 chRCCs and 19 oncocytomas were retrieved and used for the construction of renal tissue microarrays (TMAs). The expression of parafibromin was detected by immunohistochemical method on the constructed TMAs. Positive parafibromin stains are seen in 4 out of 61 ccRCCs (7%), 7 out of 37 pRCCs (19%), 12 out of 23 chRCCs (52%) and all 19 oncocytomas (100%). Parafibromin expression varies significantly (P< 8.8 x10-16) among the four major renal cell tumors and were correlated closely with tumor types. No correlation of parafibromin expression with tumor staging in ccRCCs, pRCCs and chRCCs, and Fuhrman nuclear grading in ccRCCs and pRCCs. In summary, parafibromin expression was strongly correlated with tumor types, which may suggest that it plays a role in the tumorigenesis in renal cell tumors.
Insights
Parafibromin expression, a tumor suppressor, significantly differs across major renal cell tumors. Its presence strongly correlates with specific tumor types, suggesting a role in renal cell tumorigenesis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Parafibromin, encoded by the HRPT2 gene, is a known tumor suppressor.
- Loss of parafibromin expression is observed in various carcinomas, but its role in renal tumors is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parafibromin expression in four major renal cell tumor types: clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC), and oncocytoma.
- To determine the correlation between parafibromin expression and clinicopathological features of renal tumors.
Main Methods:
- Construction of renal tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 139 renal tumors (61 ccRCCs, 37 pRCCs, 22 chRCCs, 19 oncocytomas).
- Immunohistochemical detection of parafibromin expression on TMAs.
Main Results:
- Parafibromin expression varied significantly among renal tumor types: 7% in ccRCC, 19% in pRCC, 52% in chRCC, and 100% in oncocytomas.
- Expression levels showed a strong correlation with tumor type (P < 8.8 x10-16).
- No significant correlation was found between parafibromin expression and tumor stage or Fuhrman nuclear grade in specific subtypes.
Conclusions:
- Parafibromin expression is strongly associated with the histological type of renal cell tumors.
- These findings suggest parafibromin plays a role in the tumorigenesis of renal cell cancers.
