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A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies
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Molecular targets on the horizon for kidney and urothelial cancer

Joaquim Bellmunt1, Bin T Teh, Giampaolo Tortora

  • 1Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA and Hospital del Mar-IMIM-IMAS, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.

Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology
|August 29, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Whole-genome sequencing offers personalized cancer treatment insights, particularly for renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. Research is uncovering biomarkers for drug sensitivity and resistance in these urological cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Urological Cancers

Background:

  • Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) advances cancer diagnosis and treatment, enabling personalized medicine.
  • Genomic data for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) are limited but emerging.
  • Targeted therapies for RCC improve survival but face resistance and incomplete responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biology of non-hormonally driven urological cancers.
  • To explore how WGS can identify biomarkers for drug sensitivity in RCC and UC.
  • To discuss genomic and epigenomic discoveries in RCC for clinical application.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on WGS in urological cancers.
  • Analysis of genomic and epigenomic data in renal cell carcinoma.
  • Discussion of identified mutations and pathways in urothelial carcinoma.

Main Results:

  • Multiple druggable mutations identified in urothelial carcinomas, though clinical outcome associations require robust demonstration.
  • Emerging data in renal cell carcinoma have led to targeted agents improving overall survival.
  • Genomic and epigenomic mining in RCC has revealed novel genes and pathways in tumorigenesis, classification, and resistance.

Conclusions:

  • WGS facilitates biomarker discovery for drug sensitivity in RCC and UC.
  • Further research into genomic alterations is crucial for improving treatment efficacy and overcoming resistance in urological cancers.
  • Translating genomic discoveries into clinical practice holds promise for advancing the management of RCC and UC.

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