Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
Expanding the miRNA Transcriptome of Human Kidney and Renal Cell Carcinoma
Adam P Sage1, Brenda C Minatel1, Erin A Marshall1
1Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers of kidney cancer remain scarce, particularly in patients who do not harbour well-defined driver mutations. Recent evidence suggests that a large proportion of the human noncoding transcriptome has escaped detection in early genomic explorations. Here, we undertake a large-scale analysis of small RNA-sequencing data from both clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and nonmalignant samples to generate a robust set of miRNAs that remain unannotated in kidney tissues. We find that these novel kidney miRNAs are also expressed in renal cancer cell lines. Moreover, these sequences are differentially expressed between ccRCC and matched nonmalignant tissues, implicating their involvement in ccRCC biology and potential utility as tumour-specific markers of disease. Indeed, we find some of these miRNAs to be significantly associated with patient survival. Finally, target prediction and subsequent pathway analysis reveals that miRNAs previously unannotated in kidney tissues may target genes involved in ccRCC tumourigenesis and disease biology. Taken together, our results represent a new resource for the study of kidney cancer and underscore the need to characterize the unexplored areas of the transcriptome.
Insights
Researchers discovered novel kidney microRNAs (miRNAs) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). These unannotated miRNAs show potential as diagnostic markers and are linked to patient survival in kidney cancer.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers for kidney cancer are limited, especially in patients without known driver mutations.
- A significant portion of the human noncoding transcriptome remains uncharacterized in genomic studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel microRNAs (miRNAs) in kidney tissues using small RNA sequencing.
- To assess the expression and potential utility of these novel miRNAs as biomarkers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
Main Methods:
- Large-scale analysis of small RNA sequencing data from ccRCC and nonmalignant kidney tissues.
- Expression profiling of novel kidney miRNAs in ccRCC cell lines and patient tissues.
- Bioinformatic analysis for target prediction and pathway analysis.
Main Results:
- A set of previously unannotated kidney miRNAs were identified and found to be expressed in ccRCC cell lines.
- These novel miRNAs were differentially expressed between ccRCC and matched nonmalignant tissues.
- Several novel miRNAs were significantly associated with patient survival, suggesting prognostic value.
Conclusions:
- The identified novel kidney miRNAs are implicated in ccRCC biology and hold potential as tumor-specific diagnostic and prognostic markers.
- These findings highlight the importance of exploring the unannotated transcriptome for new insights into kidney cancer.
- This study provides a valuable resource for future research in kidney cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
01:45Kidney Structure
01:17Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
01:20Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
01:23Renal Clearance
Renal clearance refers to the volume of plasma cleared of a specific substance, such as creatinine, per unit of time. To measure clearance, urine samples are collected over a 24-hour period during each bladder voiding, followed by a single blood sample at the...
01:08Renal Drug Clearance: Comparison Between Renal Excretion Methods
Renal clearance is often associated with the renal glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which represents the rate at which plasma is filtered through the glomeruli in the kidney. When drug reabsorption is minimal and there is no active secretion, renal clearance is closely related to the...
01:21External Anatomy of the Kidney
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...