Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Manifesting as an Ovarian Mass: Case Report and Review of Literature

ObjectiveTo report the uncommon case of a woman with abdominal pain and a complex adnexal mass, who was subsequently found to have medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) metastatic to the ovary.MethodsWe present the clinical history, physical findings, laboratory and imaging studies, and pathologic findings in a woman with metastatic MTC and locally aggressive disease. The genetic associations, variable clinical course, and histopathologic findings in MTC are reviewed.ResultsA 38-year-old woman with abdominal and pelvic pain underwent a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen, which showed a complex left adnexal mass. After laparoscopic left oophorectomy, histopathologic analysis of the resected ovary suggested the presence of a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor. The patient recovered but was referred to the surgery clinic 3 months later because of hoarseness, a left neck mass, and left-sided vocal cord paralysis. Further work-up was suggestive of MTC, which prompted RET testing for multiple endocrine neoplasia. The patient underwent left thyroid lobectomy and selective lymph node dissection but later required tracheostomy because of tumoral invasion of the trachea, laser debulking of the tumor, and external beam radiation therapy. One year postoperatively, development of a metastatic lesion in her right ovary necessitated a second oophorectomy.ConclusionMTC usually manifests as a solitary thyroid nodule but should be considered in patients with metastatic lesions characterized by neuroendocrine features. This unusual case highlights the biologic and clinical variability of this often aggressive thyroid cancer, which necessitates an attentive work-up, a rigorous operative strategy, and a periodic postoperative surveillance program. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:351-357)     

Circulating Tumor Cell Composition in Renal Cell Carcinoma

PurposeDue to their minimal-invasive yet potentially current character circulating tumor cells (CTC) might be useful as a “liquid biopsy” in solid tumors. However, successful application in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been very limited so far. High plasticity and heterogeneity of CTC morphology challenges currently available enrichment and detection techniques with EpCAM as the usual surface marker being underrepresented in mRCC. We recently described a method that enables us to identify and characterize non-hematopoietic cells in the peripheral blood stream with varying characteristics and define CTC subgroups that distinctly associate to clinical parameters. With this pilot study we wanted to scrutinize feasibility of this approach and its potential usage in clinical studies.ResultsWe detected CTC with epithelial, mesenchymal, stem cell-like or mixed-cell characteristics at different time-points during anti-angiogenic therapy. The presence and quantity of N-cadherin-positive or CD133-positive CTC was associated with inferior PFS. There was an inverse correlation between high expression of HIF1A, VEGFA, VEGFR and FGFR and the presence of N-cadherin-positive and CD133-positive CTC.ConclusionsPatients with mRCC exhibit distinct CTC profiles that may implicate differences in therapeutic outcome. Prospective evaluation of phenotypic and genetic CTC profiling as prognostic and predictive biomarker in mRCC is warranted.     

Identification of Protein Markers Specific for Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Since the emergence of proteomics methods, many proteins specific for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been identified. Despite their usefulness for the specific diagnosis of RCC, such proteins do not provide spatial information on the diseased tissue. Therefore, the identification of cancer-specific proteins that include information on their specific location is needed. Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) based imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has emerged as a new tool for the analysis of spatial distribution as well as identification of either proteins or small molecules in tissues. In this report, surgical tissue sections of papillary RCC were analyzed using MALDI-IMS. Statistical analysis revealed several discriminative cancer-specific m/z-species between normal and diseased tissues. Among these m/z-species, two particular proteins, S100A11 and ferritin light chain, which are specific for papillary RCC cancer regions, were successfully identified using LC-MS/MS following protein extraction from independent RCC samples. The expressions of S100A11 and ferritin light chain were further validated by immunohistochemistry of human tissues and tissue microarrays (TMAs) of RCC. In conclusion, MALDI-IMS followed by LC-MS/MS analysis in human tissue identified that S100A11 and ferritin light chain are differentially expressed proteins in papillary RCC cancer regions.     

The Role of Angiopoietins as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) is a secreted glycoprotein upregulated at sites of angiogenesis and has been implicated in cancer neovascularization. Recent studies have suggested efficacy of combined Ang and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibition for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We measured Ang2 expression in human tissue and plasma, and tested the effect of dual Ang1/2 (trebananib; AMG386) or Ang2 alone (L1-7) inhibition with VEGFR inhibition on murine RCC growth and blood flow. Ang2 levels were higher in human tumors than normal tissues with RCC ranking highest for Ang2 expression across all tumor types tested. Plasma Ang2 was significantly higher in patients with mRCC compared to controls or patients with stage I disease. Plasma Ang2 decreased with sunitinib treatment and increased at time of disease progression. In the RCC mouse, dual Ang1/2 and Ang2 inhibition improved the activity of sunitinib. Combined Ang1/2 and VEGFR inhibition prevented the resumption of blood flow associated with sunitinib resistance. Thus, Ang2 inhibition, independent of Ang1 inhibition, improves the activity of sunitinib and plasma Ang2 increases in the setting of progression on sunitinib possibly contributing to resistance. Further, arterial spin-labeled perfusion magnetic resonance imaging might be a non-invasive marker of the antiangiogenic activity of Ang inhibitors.     

Solitary Renal Fossa Recurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma After Nephrectomy

Renal cell carcinoma without metastasis responds well to surgical excision but is known to recur postnephrectomy. In a small but significant number of patients this recurrence is not accompanied by metastasis, which is important as these people benefit from further surgery. We examined 20 articles from the current literature to ascertain how best to treat this condition. Surgical management renders better results than conservative or medical therapies. Readily available investigations such as blood tests and computed tomography can help determine the right patients for surgery in an evidence-based fashion. Current findings have allowed us to suggest a protocol for the treatment of solitary renal fossa recurrence of postnephrectomy renal cell carcinoma. There are further opportunities for study in validating our protocol, and in novel renal cell carcinoma treatment strategies that have not been tested on solitary renal fossa recurrences.Key words: Renal cancer, Recurrence, Nephrectomy, Complications, ManagementKidney cancers represent 2% of cancers worldwide; the most common type is renal cell carcinoma. Curative treatment of localized disease is a nephrectomy. Following surgery, recurrence can happen locally with an incidence of 1.61%.^1–5 A solitary renal fossa local recurrence is rare but important to distinguish from local recurrence with metastasis, which would not benefit from surgical resection. The 5-year survival postresection of local recurrence for those without metastasis compared with those with metastasis was 62% compared with 0%.⁴ The kidneys are bordered by the colon, spleen, liver, stomach, and associated neurovascular structures, all of which may be invaded in this form of recurrence; specific morbidity is related to the invasion and subsequent resection of these organs. General morbidity is caused by the surgery itself, with pain, infection, and hemorrhage being major contributors (Figure 1). This article explains predictive factors in recurrence, useful diagnostic modalities, and management, and provides recommendations and highlights opportunities for further study.Open in a separate windowFigure 1Computed tomography image of a patient with renal fossa recurrence of renal cancer after nephrectomy. Of note is the large mass identifiable in the spleen.     

Role of Chemokines in Renal Cell Carcinoma

With new frontiers of pharmaceutical therapies focusing on tumor growth and angiogenesis, understanding the interaction between immune system and tumor microenvironment has become ever more important. Chemokines and chemokine receptors appear to play an integral role in tumor characteristics. Evidence suggests CXCR4, CXCL5, CXCR7, and stromal derived factor-1 appear to be crucial in survival, growth, and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. As the role of chemokines in renal cancer is becoming more evident, further research will lead to a better understanding of tumor biology and the development of new therapeutic targets to help improve survival.Key words: Chemokine, Cytokines, Renal cell carcinoma, OncocytomaRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most common malignant condition among men and twelfth among women, representing 2% to 3% of all cancers.¹ Thirty to 40% of affected patients present with stage III or stage IV disease. It has an estimated incidence of 57,760 per year, which has increased 2% to 3% per year with no significant decrease in mortality rates.² Median survival of patients with metastatic disease is merely 13 months.¹ Studies have established that tumor and stroma interact through a variety of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.³ Recent evidence suggests chemokines may facilitate tumor growth, survival, and metastatic potential of various cancers including RCC. Chemokines have a potential to be utilized as tumor markers and novel targets of antiangiogenic therapy. Investigating the role of various chemokines in the development and metastasis of cancer has become a major focus of contemporary research. We examined the relevant literature and present a review of selected chemokines and their roles in renal cell cancers.     

肾透明细胞癌相关微小RNA的研究进展

微小核糖核酸(miRNAs)是一类长约22个核苷酸的非编码单链小核糖核酸分子,miRNA通过与靶mRNA 3'端非翻译序列完全或部分互补结合,导致靶mRNA降解或转录后翻译抑制,从而调控靶基因的表达.最新研究显示人类血清/血浆中miRNA表达稳定,并在肿瘤患者血清中发现多种miRNA,其中的一些已经被证实与肾癌发生及发展相关,以往miRNA与肾癌的研究方.向多集中于肾癌组织,尽管发现很多有差异的miRNA,但不同研究者之间的结果常难以相互验证,而最近研究证实血清miRNA具有组织相关性和器官特异性,并对某些肿瘤具有高敏感性和特异性,因此其有望成为新的肿瘤标志物.肾癌是国内泌尿系统的第二常见恶性肿瘤,而且其近年来发病率和死亡率有逐年增高的趋势.由于肾透明细胞癌是肾癌的主要亚型,因此本文就血清miRNA在肾透明细胞癌的表达及其作用的研究进展作一综述.     

转移性肾癌生物治疗研究进展

转移性肾癌(mRCC)作为一种高度恶性的疾病,以进展快、病死率高为特点,且一直以来临床上对其治疗效果并不理想.联合化疗和(或)放疗也不能显著提高反应率或改善生存.在分子靶向药物诞生之前,临床上应用以细胞因子为基础的免疫治疗作为mRCC的一线治疗.分子靶向药物的问世,彻底打破了传统细胞因子免疫治疗mRCC的局面,使mRCC患者获得较好的临床治疗效果.本文将系统阐述mRCC的免疫治疗与靶向治疗的进展,详细介绍目前靶向治疗的临床应用情况,以期为mRCC治疗药物的合理选择提供参考.     

Tubulocystic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Great Imitator

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma (TCRC) is a rare renal tumor. Patients are usually asymptomatic; it is usually detected incidentally, during imaging studies for Bosniak type III and type IV renal cysts. These tumors rarely metastasize. The role of targeted therapy in such rare tumors is still controversial. We report a case of TCRC initially presented as a Bosniak type II renal cyst and was discovered ultimately to be a metastatic disease. This type of presentation might broaden our understanding of this rare disease.     

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Thyroid Gland

ObjectiveTo examine the presentation, diagnosis, and appropriate management of renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid gland.MethodsWe describe a clinical case of solitary thyroid metastasis from renal clear cell carcinoma and present a comprehensive review of the related English-language literature. Common patterns of presentation and generalized overall management recommendations are evaluated and summarized.ResultsEight years after nephrectomy for renal carcinoma at age 61 years, a man presented with a thyroid mass. Cytology and histopathologic surgical findings were consistent with a solitary metastasis most compatible with metastatic clear cell carcinoma from his previous renal carcinoma. After left thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy, the patient remains disease-free 5 years later. Although uncommon, nearly 150 cases of clinically recognized metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid have been reported in the English-language literature. Metastatic disease from the kidney to the thyroid gland can occur more than 20 years after nephrectomy with the average time interval being 7.5 years. Obtaining a full clinical history in any patient who presents with a thyroid nodule is essential to allow consideration of possible metastatic disease from previous primary tumor. Metastatic disease to the thyroid gland can be correctly diagnosed preoperatively. If metastatic renal cancer is limited to the thyroid gland only, prompt, appropriate surgical intervention can be curative.ConclusionMetastatic renal carcinoma to the thyroid should be considered in any patient presenting with a thyroid mass and a medical history of renal cell carcinoma. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:1040-1046)     

去泛素化酶在肾细胞癌中的作用

肾细胞癌（renal cell carcinoma,RCC）是成人肾脏的原发性恶性肿瘤。泛素-蛋白酶体系统（ubiquitin-proteasome system,UPS）对控制蛋白质水平和调节生理病理过程至关重要。去泛素化酶（deubiquitinases,DUBs）是UPS的关键成分,特别是从靶蛋白中去除泛素链,通过严格调节正常生理学中泛素化和去泛素化之间的平衡,对蛋白质稳态和质量控制显示出至关重要的作用。越来越多的研究表明,功能异常的DUBs与RCC的进展和转移有关。根据底物的不同,一些DUB可能会抑制RCC,而另一些则促进。本文综述了RCC相关DUB的最新研究进展,描述了其分类、功能作用,总结了DUB在RCC中的作用和作用机制,并讨论了靶向DUBs用于癌症治疗。     

肾癌相关基因克隆——肾癌cDNA消减文库的构建

应用抑制性消减杂交技术,构建人肾癌与正常肾差异表达的cDNA消减文库.分别从肾癌及正常肾细胞系中提取poly(A)⁺RNA,依次合成单链及双链cDNA,经酶切成平均大小为400～600 bp的片段,将肾癌cDNA分为两组,分别与两种不同的接头衔接,再与正常肾cDNA进行两次消减杂交及两次抑制性PCR后,将产物与T/A载体连接构建成功cDNA消减文库,并转染大肠杆菌进行文库扩增.构建成功具有高消减效率的人肾癌cDNA消减文库,非特异性cDNA片段被有效地消减,特异表达的cDNA得到富集.文库扩增后得到6 500个克隆,随机挑取350个制备质粒,酶切分析均得到400～600 bp插入片段.所构建的人肾癌cDNA消减文库为进一步大批量筛选、克隆肾癌特异性表达的未知新基因奠定了基础.     

Relevance and Therapeutic Possibility of PTEN-Long in Renal Cell Carcinoma

PTEN-Long is a translational variant of PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog). Like PTEN, PTEN-Long is able to antagonize the PI3K-Akt pathway and inhibits tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the role PTEN-Long plays in the development and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and explored the therapeutic possibility using proteinaceous PTEN-Long to treat ccRCC. We found that the protein levels of PTEN-Long were drastically reduced in ccRCC, which was correlated with increased levels of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt). Gain of function experiments showed overexpression of PTEN-Long in the ccRCC cell line 786-0 suppressed PI3K-Akt signaling, inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and eventually induced cell death. When purified PTEN-Long was added into cultured 786-0 cells, it entered cells, blocked Akt activation, and induced apoptosis involving Caspase 3 cleavage. Furthermore, PTEN-Long inhibited proliferation of 786-0 cells in xenograft mouse model. Our results implicated that understanding the roles of PTEN-Long in renal cell carcinogenesis has therapeutic significance.     

Metabolic Factors Associated with Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that obesity and hypertension are associated with increased risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but less is known about the association to other metabolic factors. In the Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer project (Me-Can) data on body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), blood pressure, and circulating levels of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides were collected from 560,388 men and women in cohorts from Norway, Austria, and Sweden. By use of Cox proportional hazard models, hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for separate and composite metabolic exposures. During a median follow-up of 10 years, 592 men and 263 women were diagnosed with RCC. Among men, we found an increased risk of RCC for BMI, highest vs. lowest quintile, (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.13–2.03), systolic blood pressure, (HR = 3.40, 95% CI 1.91–6.06), diastolic blood pressure, (HR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.85–5.99), glucose, (HR = 3.75, 95% CI 1.46–9.68), triglycerides, (HR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.00–3.21) and a composite score of these metabolic factors, (HR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.75–4.11). Among women we found an increased risk of RCC for BMI, highest vs. lowest quintile, (HR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.32–3.70) and the composite score, (HR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.12–4.68). High levels of the composite score were also associated with risk of death from RCC among both men and women. No multiplicative statistical or biological interactions between metabolic factors on risk of RCC were found. High levels of BMI, blood pressure, glucose and triglycerides among men and high BMI among women were associated with increased risk of RCC.     

Identification of Potential Serum Proteomic Biomarkers for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective

To investigate discriminating protein patterns and serum biomarkers between clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients and healthy controls, as well as between paired pre- and post-operative ccRCC patients.

Methods

We used magnetic bead-based separation followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) to identify patients with ccRCC. A total of 162 serum samples were analyzed in this study, among which there were 58 serum samples from ccRCC patients, 40 from additional paired pre- and post-operative ccRCC patients (n = 20), and 64 from healthy volunteers as healthy controls. ClinProTools software identified several distinct markers between ccRCC patients and healthy controls, as well as between pre- and post-operative patients.

Results

Patients with ccRCC could be identified with a mean sensitivity of 88.38% and a mean specificity of 91.67%. Of 67 m/z peaks that differed among the ccRCC, healthy controls, pre- and post-operative ccRCC patients, 24 were significantly different (P<0.05). Three candidate peaks, which were upregulated in ccRCC group and showed a tendency to return to healthy control values after surgery, were identified as peptide regions of RNA-binding protein 6 (RBP6), tubulin beta chain (TUBB), and zinc finger protein 3 (ZFP3) with the m/z values of 1466.98, 1618.22, and 5905.23, respectively.

Conclusion

MB-MALDI-TOF-MS method could generate serum peptidome profiles of ccRCC, and provide a new approach to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis as well as prognosis of this malignancy.     

Computational Modelling of Metastasis Development in Renal Cell Carcinoma

The biology of the metastatic colonization process remains a poorly understood phenomenon. To improve our knowledge of its dynamics, we conducted a modelling study based on multi-modal data from an orthotopic murine experimental system of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The standard theory of metastatic colonization usually assumes that secondary tumours, once established at a distant site, grow independently from each other and from the primary tumour. Using a mathematical model that translates this assumption into equations, we challenged this theory against our data that included: 1) dynamics of primary tumour cells in the kidney and metastatic cells in the lungs, retrieved by green fluorescent protein tracking, and 2) magnetic resonance images (MRI) informing on the number and size of macroscopic lesions. Critically, when calibrated on the growth of the primary tumour and total metastatic burden, the predicted theoretical size distributions were not in agreement with the MRI observations. Moreover, tumour expansion only based on proliferation was not able to explain the volume increase of the metastatic lesions. These findings strongly suggested rejection of the standard theory, demonstrating that the time development of the size distribution of metastases could not be explained by independent growth of metastatic foci. This led us to investigate the effect of spatial interactions between merging metastatic tumours on the dynamics of the global metastatic burden. We derived a mathematical model of spatial tumour growth, confronted it with experimental data of single metastatic tumour growth, and used it to provide insights on the dynamics of multiple tumours growing in close vicinity. Together, our results have implications for theories of the metastatic process and suggest that global dynamics of metastasis development is dependent on spatial interactions between metastatic lesions.     

Three Dimensional Culture of Human Renal Cell Carcinoma Organoids

Renal cell carcinomas arise from the nephron but are heterogeneous in disease biology, clinical behavior, prognosis, and response to systemic therapy. Development of patient-specific in vitro models that efficiently and faithfully reproduce the in vivo phenotype may provide a means to develop personalized therapies for this diverse carcinoma. Studies to maintain and model tumor phenotypes in vitro were conducted with emerging three-dimensional culture techniques and natural scaffolding materials. Human renal cell carcinomas were individually characterized by histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative PCR to establish the characteristics of each tumor. Isolated cells were cultured on renal extracellular matrix and compared to a novel polysaccharide scaffold to assess cell-scaffold interactions, development of organoids, and maintenance of gene expression signatures over time in culture. Renal cell carcinomas cultured on renal extracellular matrix repopulated tubules or vessel lumens in renal pyramids and medullary rays, but cells were not observed in glomeruli or outer cortical regions of the scaffold. In the polysaccharide scaffold, renal cell carcinomas formed aggregates that were loosely attached to the scaffold or free-floating within the matrix. Molecular analysis of cell-scaffold constructs including immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR demonstrated that individual tumor phenotypes could be sustained for up to 21 days in culture on both scaffolds, and in comparison to outcomes in two-dimensional monolayer cultures. The use of three-dimensional scaffolds to engineer a personalized in vitro renal cell carcinoma model provides opportunities to advance understanding of this disease.     

转移性肾癌细胞因子疗法的研究进展

转移性肾癌(mRCC)对放疗、化疗均不敏感,虽然靶向治疗为转移性肾癌的治疗提供了新的治疗方案,但免疫疗法一直作为治疗转移性肾癌的基础疗法。在过去的20年中,研究者也一直在研究新的免疫疗法,研究方向趋向于研究各种细胞因子,其中最主要的有IFN-α和IL-2两种,二者可以明显提高患者的生存时间。但是转移性肾癌的细胞因子疗法仍需进一步优化,本文总结了使用细胞因子治疗转移性肾癌的Ⅲ期临床试验,以期为转移性肾癌细胞因子疗法的合理选择提供参考。