Review article

Renal cell carcinoma: molecular pathways and targeted therapy

MILENA GNJIDIĆ ; Department of Medical Oncology University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
IVA KARDUM FUCAK ; General Hospital „Dr. T. Bardek“, Department of Internal Medicine Koprivnica, Croatia

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not a single disease. A number of different types of cancer occur in the kidney and each is caused by different genes with different histology and clinical course. Studies of hereditary kidney cancer sydromes have led to identification of the main kidney cancer genes: VHL, MET, FH, SDH, FLCN, TSC1 and TSC2. Mutations in each of these genes lead to dysregulation of at least one metabolic pathway that is mediated by oxygen, iron, energy and nutrient sensing suggesting that renal cell cancer is a disease of dysregulated cellular metabolism. A more improved understanding of molecular pathways has led to development of targeted therapies. Targeted agents against VEGF, VEGFR and mTOR continue to
play a crucial role in the management of metastatic RCC. However, complete response is extremely rare, resistance in tumor cells develops frequently and adverse effects of therapy are not unusual finding. For that reason further genetic and epigenetic changes, metabolic aberrations as well as immune response are beeing investigated in numerous studies to find new targets for more personalized therapy.

Keywords

renal cell carcinoma; molecular pathways; targeted therapy

Hrčak ID:

138066

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/138066

Publication date:

30.12.2014.

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