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Updated: Jun 13, 2025
The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays RPPA to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
Published on: January 22, 2013
Identification of novel biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma
Fernanda Fernandes-Pontes1, João Lobo1,2, Carmen Jeronimo1,3
1Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal.
Introduction:
Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous disease, with distinct clinical outcomes for each subtype. Even within subtypes, outcomes differ and there is a need for novel biomarkers enabling risk stratification or predicting response to targeted therapies.
Areas Covered:
Epigenetic alterations, particularly aberrant DNA methylation and microRNAs deregulation, are a biomarker source that might be evaluated in liquid biopsies. Moreover, despite the ground knowledge that RCC comprises different histological entities, most studies still focus on 'RCC' in general and do not consider different subtypes. The most promising microRNAs for ccRCC identification are miR-210-3p, miR-21-3p, and miR-155-5p, which might help accurately subtype RCC, being closer to clinical routine but still lacking validation. Besides, miR-146-a and miR-126-a are promising biomarkers to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Expert Opinion:
Substantial developments in molecular diagnostics have been recently made, namely regarding liquid biopsies, despite the lack of biomarkers approved for clinical routine. The inclusion of dedicated Pathologists in biomarker studies remains crucial to truly achieving clinical relevance. Furthermore, combination of artificial intelligence with molecular biomarkers may foster personalized RCC management, with improved precision.
