title: Molecular detection of von Hippel-Lindau gene mutations in urine and lymph node samples in patients with renal cell carcinoma: potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and postoperative metastatic status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Organ confined renal cell carcinoma can be cured in the majority of patients, whereas more extensive lesions have a poor prognosis. Therefore, the development of a useful biomarker for early diagnosis as well as postoperative metastatic status would contribute to the appropriate therapy for renal cell carcinoma. To diagnose renal cell carcinoma preoperatively we developed a novel urinary test and detected occult lymph node micrometastasis using a molecular approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples were obtained preoperatively from 27 patients with renal cell carcinoma and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutations in the tumors, and were analyzed for VHL gene mutations using a nested single strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Lymph nodes without evidence of histological metastasis were obtained from 15 patients with renal cell carcinoma and VHL gene mutations, and analyzed for VHL gene mutations using mutation specific nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In urine samples 5 of 27 VHL gene mutations (18.5%) were found and each mutation pattern was the same as that detected in each renal cell carcinoma. One lymph node micrometastasis was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate the presence of detectable levels of tumor derived DNA in the urine of patients with renal cell carcinoma and suggest that nested single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of VHL gene of urine samples provides a possible tool for the early detection of renal cell carcinoma. Furthermore, mutation specific nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction is useful to detect occult lymph node micrometastasis and may predict patients at risk for local recurrence. These 2 combined approaches using VHL gene mutations may contribute to the total therapy for and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashida
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furihata
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shuin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008025:Ligases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009154:Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; D006623:von Hippel-Lindau Disease
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; D008025:Ligases; C497446:VHL protein, human