Gene expression profiling of renal cell carcinoma and clinical implications

Approximately 32,000 new cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are diagnosed each year in the United States and the incidence is increasing. 1 Jemal A. Thomas A. Murray T. et al. Cancer statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin. 2002; 52: 23-47 Crossref PubMed Scopus (2914) Google Scholar , 2 Chow W.H. Devesa S.S. Warren J.L. et al. Rising incidence of renal cell cancer in the United States. JAMA. 1999; 281: 1628-1631 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1331) Google Scholar RCC accounts for approximately 12,000 deaths each year. It is a heterogeneous disease with various histologic subtypes described. Gene expression profiling of kidney tumors by microarray analysis is an emerging technology with the potential to advance our understanding of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of RCC by uncovering its molecular signatures. We give an overview of microarray technology, review the recent advances in gene expression profiling of RCC, and discuss its clinical implications. The interested reader may peruse an excellent summary of microarray technology 3 The chipping forecast II. Nat Genet. 2002; 32: 461-552 Google Scholar to gain a more detailed insight into microarray technology.