Clear cell carcinomas of the ovary and kidney: clarity through genomics

J Pathol. 2018 Apr;244(5):550-564. doi: 10.1002/path.5037. Epub 2018 Feb 23.

Abstract

Clear cell ovarian carcinoma (CCOC) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) both feature clear cytoplasm, owing to the accumulation of cytoplasmic glycogen. Genomic studies have demonstrated several mutational similarities between these two diseases, including frequent alterations in the chromatin remodelling SWI-SNF and cellular proliferation phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin pathways, as well as a shared hypoxia-like mRNA expression signature. Although many targeted treatment options have been approved for advanced-stage ccRCC, CCOC patients are still treated with conventional platinum and taxane chemotherapy, to which they are resistant. To determine the extent of similarity between these malignancies, we performed unsupervised clustering of mRNA expression data from these cancers. This review highlights the similarities and differences between these two clear cell carcinomas to facilitate knowledge translation within future research efforts. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords: clear cell ovarian carcinoma; clear cell renal cell carcinoma; genomic; metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / therapy
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genomics / methods*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Pathology, Molecular / methods*
  • Phenotype
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RNA, Messenger