There are a number of ongoing studies trying to identify the risk factors associated with renal cancer. In particular, there is a lot of research into genetic risk factors.There is currently research being conducted in the UK looking at the blood samples of people who may have an inherited genetic fault or medical condition that increases their risk of developing RCC. The aim of the study is to find out more about the genetic causes of RCC, and more about how gene faults may increase risk.[1]
Some people have biomarkers that make them more vulnerable to develop Kidney cancer. There is research being done in Cambridge looking into these biomarkers and researchers hope this information will help them learn more about the causes of cancer and develop better tests and treatments in the future.
In this study, the researchers will look at people’s blood and urine samples before and after surgery to measure certain biomarkers.
The aims of this study are to:
- Find out if surgery of the prostate, bladder, penis and kidney causes changes to biomarkers in the body
- See if there is a link between changes in these biomarkers and complications after surgery
- See if there is a link between changes in these biomarkers and the cancer coming back [1]
In the RE-MAP study, researchers are looking at a new type of scan that combines a PET scan and an MRI scan (a PET-MRI scan). They think a PET-MRI scan might be better at showing not just the size of the cancer but how the cancer is behaving. This could mean that doctors could change your treatment sooner if it doesn’t look like it is working well. The aim of the study is to see if a PET-MRI scan is better than a CT scan at showing how well treatment is working.[1]
The PAN study in Cambridge looks at breath samples to detect cancer early. The researchers in this study plan to collect and analyse breath samples to see if the exhaled breath can detect cancer. [1]
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) to help GPs identify possible cancers. The eRATS look at any symptoms that have been recorded in your medical records and it calculates your risk of getting cancer. It doesn’t mean that you definitely have cancer.
They think that by using eRATs they might be able to find cancer at an earlier stage. This would mean that the cancer could be treated earlier with the aim to cure. And it could help reduce the costs to the NHS. [1]
The PREDICT Consortium is a collaborative research group involving the Technical University of Denmark, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, and Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France, among others. This group is using functional cancer genomics to define the next generation of predictive biomarkers for RCC [2]. See Unit 4 of Module 8 for more information about individualised treatments.
Ongoing research into the genetic risk factors associated with renal cancer includes:
- A number of ongoing studies investigating the genetic causes of renal cancer with the aim to predict those people at increased risk of developing the disease. Scientists are investigating ways to try to determine who carries genes, such as the von Hippel-Lindau gene, that are linked to an increase in renal cancer risk. They are also investigating people who might have an inherited genetic fault (a mutation) or medical condition, which increases their risk of developing the disease, such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome. If successful, physicians could identify those people at most risk and treat them during the early stages of the disease [3].
- Molecular scientists are investigating the von Hippel-Lindau gene for genetic mutations that might help them to determine the process that leads to the development of renal cancer. It is hoped that this work will lead to new treatments that block the growth of renal tumours [3].
- Recently, it has been discovered that mutations in the PBRM1 gene are present in about a quarter of patients with renal cell carcinoma. This finding may help researchers develop tests for renal cell carcinoma, or help with the development of new treatments.
- Cancer Research UK are conducting a study that is looking for the genes that may increase the risk of developing papillary renal cell carcinoma: a rare subtype of renal cell carcinoma [3].
References
- Kidney cancer research, Cancer research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/clinical-trials-search?populate=Kidney%20cancer&f%5B0%5D=field_trial_status%3A4386 Accessed January 2022
- PREDICT Consortium: http://www.predictconsortium.eu/
- Kidney cancer research, Cancer Research UK: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/kidney-cancer/treatment/whats-new-in-kidney-cancer-research. Accessed March 2016.