Molecular detection and evaluation of circulating tumor cells in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Renal carcinoma represents one of the 10 most common cancers in the world and it is part of a heterogeneous group whose one of the main histological variants is the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). Few methodologies are available for the early detection of this neoplasm. Due to the tumor heterogeneity, several studies have been carried out for the molecular characterization, through gene mutation, angiogenesis, adaptation to the tumor microenvironment and immune system pathways. In patients treated with target therapies and/or immunotherapies, the search for biomarkers is essential to predict the response to treatment. The invasion of the bloodstream by the tumor occurs through circulating tumor cells (CTCs). There are some ways to isolate CTCs, using physical, immunological and molecular principles. In our research center we use the ISET (Isolation by SizE of Tumor Cells). This Project aims to detect CTCs in blood from patients with CRCC (Department of Medical Oncology, A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil) and to correlate with the response to treatment and progression-free survival. Blood samples from approximately 20 patients (10 mL) will be analyzed before the start of treatment and after 30, 60 and 90 days. CTCs will be isolated, and then we will perform immunocytochemistry to identify the markers commonly identified in primary tumors such as PD-L1, CD133, HIF, PBRM1, SETD2, BAP1, VEGF and N-Cad. We hope to verify whether CTCs can be used as prognostic and predictive factors specifically in CRCC.