Amplification as a Predictive and Prognostic Biomarker in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs) occur in about 5-10% of all urothelial carcinomas and are frequently discovered in high-stage disease. We aimed to evaluate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2) protein expression immunohistochemically and amplification in UTUCs by fluorescence in situ hybridization, applying a tissue microarray technique. ERBB2 overexpression and amplification were defined according to the recommendations of the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) for breast cancer and gastric carcinoma (GC), revealing scores of 2+ and 3+ in 10.

Ceruloplasmin expression in renal cell carcinoma correlates with higher-grade and shortened survival.

We aimed to explore ceruloplasmin (CP) expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). CP was analyzed in biofluid samples of 63 ccRCC patients, divided into three grading groups, and immunohistochemically, in 308 ccRCC. Significant differences of mean plasma and urine CP levels in different grading groups were found.

Loss of Mismatch-repair Protein Expression and Microsatellite Instability in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma and Clinicopathologic Implications.

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) may arise in the setting of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome [LS]) or sporadically. Variable frequencies of microsatellite instability (MSI) were found in UTUC. For advanced solid MSI tumors, targeted therapy with programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors is available.

Copy Number Alterations with Prognostic Potential in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: To detect chromosomal aberrations in a genome-wide manner with potential value for prognosis in groups of patients with different histopathological grading in clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC).

Material And Methods: We performed a copy number alteration analysis using the Affymetrix platform and SNP 6.0 mapping arrays with samples from 48 ccRCC-patients.

Prognostic value of intraoperative measurements of renal tissue oxygenation and microcirculation on renal function in partial nephrectomy.

Background: Partial nephrectomy (PNx) can be associated with macrocirculatory and microcirculatory alterations, ultimately leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Measuring kidney tissue oxygenation (μHbO2) and microcirculation during open PNx might be feasible to early detect these alterations and prevent postoperative AKI.

Methods: μHbO2 and microcirculation were measured in 45 patients undergoing PNx by reflectance spectrophotometry and laser Doppler flowmetry (O2C™, Lea, Germany), related to ischemia time and tumour size.

Upper Urinary Tract Tumors: Which Diagnostic Methods Are Needed?

Objectives: We reviewed the data of patients with upper urinary tract (UUT) tumors to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic procedures.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated tumor characteristics, imaging procedures, epidemiological and follow-up data of 113 patients. We analyzed the importance of non-invasive and endoscopic diagnosis in addition to imaging as well as the influence of stage and grade on recurrence rate.

TOP2A, HELLS, ATAD2, and TET3 Are Novel Prognostic Markers in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To identify and validate novel prognostic marker genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that are increasingly expressed during tumor progression.

Methods: Total RNA was isolated from normal renal tissue, primary G1 and G3 tumors, 14 samples each, and 32 metastases from RCC patients. Expression profiles were created using oligonucleotide microarrays.

Expression and clinicopathological correlations of retinoid acid receptor responder protein 1 in renal cell carcinomas.

Aim: To evaluate the expression and prognostic value of RARRES1 at protein level in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Materials & Methods: Expression profile of RARRES1 was analyzed in 903 documented RCC followed by clinicopathological correlations and survival analysis.

Results: RARRES1 expression was seen in 72.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and Pneumocystis jirovecii carriage in renal transplantation patients: a single-centre experience.

Background: The Pneumocystis pneumonia is an increasing problem in transplanted patients: up to 25% suffer from Pneumocystis pneumonia, occurring during the first 6 months after transplantation.

Methods: From 2001 to 2009, we investigated 21 patients with pneumonia after renal transplantation for the presence of Pneumocystis jirovecii. The laboratory diagnosis was established by Grocott and Giemsa staining methods and Pneumocystis-specific mitochondrial transcribed large subunit nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

C-kit overexpression is not associated with KIT gene mutations in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma or renal oncocytoma.

Introduction: C-kit overexpression has previously been described in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (cpRCC) and renal oncocytoma (RO). However, so far no KIT mutations have been found. The objective of our study was to analyse c-kit in a large cohort of renal tumors and to perform KIT mutation analysis in a subset cpRCC and RO cases with overexpression of c-kit.

Prognostic and diagnostic implications of epithelial cell adhesion/activating molecule (EpCAM) expression in renal tumours: a retrospective clinicopathological study of 948 cases using tissue microarrays.

Objective: To evaluate the expression and prognostic value of epithelial cell adhesion/activating molecule (EpCAM) in a large set of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) using a tissue microarray (TMA) approach.

Material And Methods: We studied the immunohistochemical expression and overexpression of EpCAM on TMAs containing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 948 patients with documented renal tumours. EpCAM expression was defined as the presence of a specific membranous staining in >5% of the tumour cells.

Expression and prognostic significance of a comprehensive epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene set in renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition enhances tumor cell motility and has a critical role in invasion and metastasis in a number of carcinomas. A set of transcription factors acts as a master regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. To our knowledge it is unknown whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition is important for clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression.

Expression profiling of metastatic renal cell carcinoma using gene set enrichment analysis.

Objective: To identify complex changes in cell biology occurring during metastatic progression of renal cell carcinoma using a novel gene expression analysis algorithm.

Methods: Whole genome expression profiling was carried out on 32 snap-frozen samples of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma metastases, 29 primary tumors (14 low grade, 15 high grade) and 14 samples of normal kidney tissue using oligonucleotide microarrays. These data were analyzed with the gene set enrichment analysis method, which is able to detect even small, but significant, expression changes in functionally connected genes that cannot be shown by gene-by-gene comparisons.

Development of a rat model for investigation of experimental splinted uretero-ureterostomy, ureteral stenting and stenosis.

Background And Aim: The objective of this study was to establish a rat model to develop hypertrophic fibrosis for subsequent safe application of ureteral stents in order to investigate new treatment options for ureteral strictures.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Group 1: Sham surgery; group 2: surgery with uretero-ureteral anastomosis and stenting.

Prognostic value of intraoperative renal tissue oxygenation measurement on early renal transplant function.

Ischemia time is a prognostic factor in renal transplantation for postoperative graft function and survival. Kidney transplants from living donors have a higher survival rate than deceased donor kidneys probably because of shorter ischemia time. We hypothesized that measurement of intraoperative kidney oxygenation (μHbO(2) ) and microvascular perfusion predicts postoperative graft function.

Gene expression analysis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma using gene set enrichment analysis for biostatistical management.

Objective: To improve the workflow for standardizing the statistical interpretation provides an opportunity for the analysis of gene expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). RCC as a solid tumour entity represents a very suitable tumour model for such investigations. Although it is possible to investigate expression profiles by microarray technologies, the main problem is how to adequately interpret the accumulated mass of data derived from microarray technologies.