Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
A transcriptional metastatic signature predicts survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Adele M Alchahin1, Shenglin Mei2, Ioanna Tsea1
1Childhood Cancer Research unit, Department of Children's and Women's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. When ccRCC is localized to the kidney, surgical resection or ablation of the tumor is often curative. However, in the metastatic setting, ccRCC remains a highly lethal disease. Here we use fresh patient samples that include treatment-naive primary tumor tissue, matched adjacent normal kidney tissue, as well as tumor samples collected from patients with bone metastases. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of tumor cells from the primary tumors reveals a distinct transcriptional signature that is predictive of metastatic potential and patient survival. Analysis of supporting stromal cells within the tumor environment demonstrates vascular remodeling within the endothelial cells. An in silico cell-to-cell interaction analysis highlights the CXCL9/CXCL10-CXCR3 axis and the CD70-CD27 axis as potential therapeutic targets. Our findings provide biological insights into the interplay between tumor cells and the ccRCC microenvironment.
Insights
Researchers identified a unique transcriptional signature in primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) that predicts metastatic potential. This discovery offers new therapeutic targets for this lethal kidney cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer.
- Localized ccRCC is often curable, but metastatic ccRCC remains a lethal disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify transcriptional signatures in primary ccRCC that predict metastatic potential.
- To investigate the tumor microenvironment and identify potential therapeutic targets in metastatic ccRCC.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of fresh patient samples (primary tumors, normal kidney tissue, bone metastases).
- In silico cell-to-cell interaction analysis.
Main Results:
- A distinct transcriptional signature in primary ccRCC tumor cells predicts metastatic potential and patient survival.
- Vascular remodeling was observed in endothelial cells within the tumor microenvironment.
- The CXCL9/CXCL10-CXCR3 and CD70-CD27 axes were identified as potential therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- The study provides biological insights into ccRCC tumor cell and microenvironment interactions.
- Identified transcriptional signatures and molecular axes offer potential therapeutic strategies for metastatic ccRCC.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...