Purpose of review: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common urologic malignancy. First symptoms are usually unspecific and belated causing the stages to be high when diagnosed. As compensation, incidental detection of RCC by abdominal imaging techniques for other medical purposes is a reality that favours a decrease in the stage of new diagnosed tumours. Therefore, identifying novel predictive biomarkers for diagnosis, progression and prognosis of RCC is fundamental.
Recent findings: To date, several studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the particular scenario of urologic tumors, and alterations at miRNA level are involved in the initiation, progression and metastases formation of renal cancer. In the present review, we have summarized the up‑to‑date preliminary clinical works on the role of urinary miRNA profiling in RCC, including an evaluation of its value as a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and follow up of RCC patients.
Keywords: Kidney disease; Renal cell carcinoma; Urologic malignancy; microRNAs.