Renal Cell Carcinoma: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches (3rd Edition)

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4877

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
Interests: renal cell carcinoma; pathology; molecular pathology; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Renal cell carcinoma is a complex disease comprised of a variety of histological subtypes. The most common histological subtype is clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which accounts for 70–80% of kidney cancer. Recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances are improving the survival rate of kidney cancer patients. The loss of tumor suppressor genes and the activation of oncogenes both allow tumors to reprogram the pathways. A large number of biomarkers have been proposed for predicting RCC recurrence. Some molecular-targeted therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and immunotherapies, have dramatically improved the outcome of RCCs. Ultrasonography is the most frequently used imaging modality for the initial diagnosis of renal masses, but a multimodality imaging approach is routinely performed in RCC. The medical treatment of RCC has greatly evolved in recent years, thanks to new information regarding the molecular pathogenesis and its histology. However, acquired drug resistance and treatment for a prognostically unfavorable subgroup of ccRCCs and other histological subtypes remain major challenges. Novel biomarkers are highly desirable for the prediction of outcomes, for drug responses, and for a novel therapeutic target.

This Special Issue of Biomedicines focuses on recent discoveries concerning clinicopathological, physiological, and molecular approaches to diagnosis, classification, and novel multidisciplinary treatments. Considering the complexity of the molecular biological background of each histological subtype of renal cell carcinoma, we welcome contributions aimed at both major and emerging histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma.

Dr. Silvio Maringhini
Dr. Riuko Ohashi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renal cell carcinoma
  • pathology
  • physiology
  • diagnosis
  • multimodal treatment
  • drug resistance
  • biomarkers

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

24 pages, 54859 KiB  
Article
A Multi-Omics Prognostic Model Capturing Tumor Stemness and the Immune Microenvironment in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
by Beibei Xiong, Wenqiang Liu, Ying Liu, Tong Chen, Anqi Lin, Jiaao Song, Le Qu, Peng Luo, Aimin Jiang and Linhui Wang
Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2171; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102171 - 24 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1914
Abstract
Background: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), a distinct subset recognized for their stem cell-like abilities, are intimately linked to the resistance to radiotherapy, metastatic behaviors, and self-renewal capacities in tumors. Despite their relevance, the definitive traits and importance of CSCs in the realm of [...] Read more.
Background: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), a distinct subset recognized for their stem cell-like abilities, are intimately linked to the resistance to radiotherapy, metastatic behaviors, and self-renewal capacities in tumors. Despite their relevance, the definitive traits and importance of CSCs in the realm of oncology are still not fully comprehended, particularly in the context of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). A comprehensive understanding of these CSCs’ properties in relation to stemness, and their impact on the efficacy of treatment and resistance to medication, is of paramount importance. Methods: In a meticulous research effort, we have identified new molecular categories designated as CRCS1 and CRCS2 through the application of an unsupervised clustering algorithm. The analysis of these subtypes included a comprehensive examination of the tumor immune environment, patterns of metabolic activity, progression of the disease, and its response to immunotherapy. In addition, we have delved into understanding these subtypes’ distinctive clinical presentations, the landscape of their genomic alterations, and the likelihood of their response to various pharmacological interventions. Proceeding from these insights, prognostic models were developed that could potentially forecast the outcomes for patients with ccRCC, as well as inform strategies for the surveillance of recurrence after treatment and the handling of drug-resistant scenarios. Results: Compared with CRCS1, CRCS2 patients had a lower clinical stage/grading and a better prognosis. The CRCS2 subtype was in a hypoxic state and was characterized by suppression and exclusion of immune function, which was sensitive to gefitinib, erlotinib, and saracatinib. The constructed prognostic risk model performed well in both training and validation cohorts, helping to identify patients who may benefit from specific treatments or who are at risk of recurrence and drug resistance. A novel therapeutic target, SAA2, regulating neutrophil and fibroblast infiltration, and, thus promoting ccRCC progression, was identified. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the key role of CSCs in shaping the ccRCC tumor microenvironment, crucial for therapy research and clinical guidance. Recognizing tumor stemness helps to predict treatment efficacy, recurrence, and drug resistance, informing treatment strategies and enhancing ccRCC patient outcomes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3018 KiB  
Article
Expression of hsa-miRNA-15b, -99b, -181a and Their Relationship to Angiogenesis in Renal Cell Carcinoma
by József Király, Erzsébet Szabó, Petra Fodor, Anna Vass, Mahua Choudhury, Rudolf Gesztelyi, Csaba Szász, Tibor Flaskó, Nikoletta Dobos, Barbara Zsebik, Ákos József Steli, Gábor Halmos and Zsuzsanna Szabó
Biomedicines 2024, 12(7), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12071441 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1339
Abstract
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in various human cancers. The roles of hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-99b-5p, and hsa-miR-181a-5p have not been fully explored in the angiogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of these miRNAs [...] Read more.
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in various human cancers. The roles of hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-99b-5p, and hsa-miR-181a-5p have not been fully explored in the angiogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of these miRNAs in tumorous and adjacent healthy tissues of RCC. Methods: Paired tumorous and adjacent normal kidney tissues from 20 patients were studied. The expression levels of hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-99b-5p, and hsa-miR-181a-5p were quantified by TaqMan miRNA Assays. Putative targets were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Results: Significant downregulation of all three miRNAs investigated was observed in tumorous samples compared to adjacent normal kidney tissues. Spearman analysis showed a negative correlation between the expression levels of miRNAs and the pathological grades of the patients. Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), was observed in tumorous samples compared to adjacent normal tissues. Depletion of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was detected compared to normal adjacent tissues. The examined miRNAs might function as contributing factors to renal carcinogenesis. However, more prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the potential role of miRNAs in RCC angiogenesis. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 1977 KiB  
Review
Early-Stage Renal Cell Carcinoma: Who Needs Adjuvant Therapy?
by Andreea Ioana Parosanu, Cornelia Nititpir, Ioana Miruna Stanciu and Catalin Baston
Biomedicines 2025, 13(3), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030543 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Surgery is the oldest modality of kidney cancer therapy and is usually the first step in the treatment process. To improve surgical outcomes, adjuvant therapy is frequently administered to eliminate residual tumors and reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis. However, not all [...] Read more.
Surgery is the oldest modality of kidney cancer therapy and is usually the first step in the treatment process. To improve surgical outcomes, adjuvant therapy is frequently administered to eliminate residual tumors and reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis. However, not all patients require adjuvant treatment. The decision regarding whether to treat or not to treat renal cell carcinoma patients depends on the risk of recurrence, including tumor stage and histology, and clinical, biological, and personal risk factors. This article will address the challenges of treating renal cell carcinoma patients with adjuvant therapy and review the current evidence and ongoing clinical trials. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop