Impact of genetics on the diagnosis and treatment of renal cancer.
Kidney cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprised of a number of histologic subtypes, each associated with unique genetic mutations, clinical features, and sensitivity to treatment. By examining families affected with the hereditary kidney cancer syndromes von Hippel-Lindau, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma, and Birt-Hogg-Dubé, researchers have been able to identify the genes responsible for these syndromes. This work has revealed that kidney cancer is fundamentally a metabolic disorder, and as such, novel targeted therapies specific to their molecular biology have been developed and employed in both the hereditary and sporadic forms of renal cell carcinoma.
Department of Health and Human Services, Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Eric A
EA
Singer
Gennady
G
Bratslavsky
Lindsay
L
Middelton
Ramaprasad
R
Srinivasan
W Marston
WM
Linehan
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy