Initiating genetic events in small renal neoplasms detected by comparative genomic hybridization.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the genetic alterations associated with renal adenomas.


METHODS
We analyzed 37 renal adenomas obtained at autopsy (23 papillary and 14 non-papillary) by comparative genomic hybridization.


RESULTS
In papillary tumors, the median number of gains and losses of genetic material per tumor was 2.0 and 1.0, respectively. Papillary tumors were characterized predominantly by gains of genetic material on chromosomes 7 (57%), 17 (35%), 16 (26%), 12 (26%), 3 (22%), 20 (22%) and loss of a sex chromosome (83%). In 6 papillary tumors less than or equal to 5 mm. in diameter, gain of chromosome 7 occurred in 4 specimens. Initiating events for papillary renal adenomas include gain of chromosome 7 and loss of a sex chromosome. In non-papillary tumors, the median number of gains and losses of genetic material per tumor was 1.0 and 1.0, respectively. Non-papillary tumors were characterized by loss of genetic material on chromosome 3p (50%), loss of a sex chromosome (36%) and a gain of chromosome 5 (43%). The initiating event for non-papillary renal adenomas is the loss of chromosome 3p.


CONCLUSIONS
Renal adenomas demonstrate similar genetic alterations as clinically detected renal cell carcinomas. Their clinically indolent course may, in part, be a result of the lower number of genetic alterations per tumor than their clinically detected counterparts. Renal adenomas are thus small carcinomas which have not yet acquired the necessary genetic alterations leading to tumor progression.
Presti
J C
JC
Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0738, USA.
Moch
H
H
Gelb
A B
AB
Huynh
D
D
Waldman
F M
FM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm