Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity is biologically and clinically distinct from eosinophilic papillary renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) is a recently described indolent entity with distinct features and its recognition from other oncocytic/eosinophilic papillary renal cell carcinoma (ePRCC) has important prognostic implications. ABCC2, a renal drug transporter, is overexpressed in aggressive PRCCs. In this study, we compared the clinicopathological parameters and the biological ABCC2 expression between PRNRP and ePRCC. PRNRP (n = 8) and ePRCC (n = 21) cases were selected from resection specimens and corresponding clinicopathological data were collected. ABCC2 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed and ABCC2 staining patterns were classified as negative, cytoplasmic, and brush‐border. RNA in‐situ hybridization (ISH) was used to assess ABCC2 transcript levels. All eight PRNRP cases had weak cytoplasmic ABCC2 IHC reactivity; however, they showed no detectable ABCC2 transcripts on RNA ISH. In comparison, 76% (16/21) of ePRCCs showed ABCC2 IHC brush‐border expression and significantly higher ABCC2 RNA ISH transcript levels (p < 0.001). Additionally, the ePRCC group showed a significantly larger tumor size (p = 0.004), higher WHO/ISUP grade (p < 0.001), and stage (p = 0.044). None of the PRNRP cases showed disease progression, while 9.5% (2/21) ePRCCs had disease progression. PRNRP is clinically and biologically distinct from ePRCC. Hence, it is crucial to differentiate between these two entities, particularly in needle core biopsies.