Genetics in renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The combination of several recent molecular technologies, including comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescence in-situ hybridization and complementary DNA and tissue microarrays, has advanced our understanding of renal cancer. However, a great deal of information regarding the genetics of renal neoplasms has also emerged from the extensive cytogenetic investigations in the past decade.


RESULTS
The correlation between cytogenetic or molecular genetic abnormalities and histomorphology is most consistent in clear cell and papillary types of renal cell carcinoma. However, gene expression profile studies have brought new insights into the classification of renal tumors, and may provide new markers that identify patients with a poor prognosis as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets.


CONCLUSIONS
The integration of expression profile data and clinical parameters could serve to enhance the diagnosis and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma. The identification and evaluation of new molecular parameters will be necessities in cancer research and cancer treatment.
Dal Cin
Paola
P
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. pdalcin@partners.org
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
D005819:Genetic Markers