Biomarkers of aggressiveness in genitourinary tumors with emphasis on kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer

Abstract

Over the last decade, the improvement in molecular techniques and the acquisition of genomic information has transformed and increased the quality of patient care and our knowledge of diseases. Areas covered: Protein expression levels in immunohistochemistry and molecular biomarkers are reported for their ability to predict recurrence, progression, development of metastases, or patient survival. In particular, for renal cell carcinoma, we take into consideration the biomarkers applicable to immunohistochemistry and with molecular and genetic analyses. In urothelial carcinoma, there is great interest in the possibility of distinguishing the basal vs. luminal subtypes and to acquire deeper insight into the tumor biology through examining exosomes in urine and biomarkers in the serum. In prostate cancer, single gene expression and multiple gene expression classifiers are reviewed as a tool to distinguish indolent vs. aggressive disease. Expert commentary: The genomic information along with the application of ancillary techniques allow the definition of a neoplasia not only by its morphology but also by its biological signature. This continuous increase in knowledge will result in a better comprehension of oncogenesis, development of targeted therapies and optimizing decision-making processes related to patient care.

Comprehensive Immunoprofiles of Renal Cell Carcinoma Subtypes

“…We also suggest that CD10 and AMACR aberrant expression can be a predictor of aggressive behavior in ChRCC in addition to the known factor of sarcomatoid differentiation [34,35]. CD10 has often been documented as a grave prognostic factor in genitourinary tract cancer [35]. Although aberrant cytoplasmic β-catenin is associated with unfavorable RCC [34], unlike one prior study [36], β-catenin proved to be the least supportive marker for subtyping of renal cell tumors in the present study.…”

“…Chromophobe RCC is distinctively, in a true sense, an epithelial-friendly tumor in viewpoint of IHC [32,33]. We also suggest that CD10 and AMACR aberrant expression can be a predictor of aggressive behavior in ChRCC in addition to the known factor of sarcomatoid differentiation [34,35]. CD10 has often been documented as a grave prognostic factor in genitourinary tract cancer [35].…”

Circulating Tumor DNA in Biliary Tract Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

“…In this setting, cfDNA analysis may detect the emergence of EGFR T790M mutation during EGFR inhibitor therapy -with a high level of concordance observed between the results of tissue testing and liquid biopsy -and also the coexistence of other resistance mechanisms, such as MET amplification (110). Other possible applications of cfDNA/ctDNA include the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers, detection of postsurgical residual disease, tracking of therapeutic response and the detection of recurrence (111,112). Despite the fact that liquid biopsy may pave the way for a revolution in medical oncology, a careful understanding of limitations and advantages of this approach is mandatory to properly interpret the analysis and to correctly guide clinical decision making.…”

LC-MS-Based Plasma Metabolomics and Lipidomics Analyses for Differential Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer and Renal Cell Carcinoma

“…First, most of these studies focus on one kind of cancer. However, in clinic there is great interest in the possibility of distinguishing different types of cancer based on metabolomics and to acquire deeper insight into the tumor biology and cancer type-specific biomarker discovery (5,24,25). Up to now, only one study worked on above issue.…”