| 1. |
- Andersson-Evelönn, Emma, 1983-
(author)
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DNA methylation as a prognostic marker in clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of renal cell carcinoma worldwide. Metastatic ccRCC is correlated to poor prognosis whereas non-metastatic disease has a 5-year survival rate up to 90%. Due to increased accessibility to different types of diagnostic imaging the frequency of metastatic ccRCC at diagnosis has decreased since the beginning of the 21st century. This has led to an earlier detection of primary tumors before patients present symptoms. However, 20-30% of the non-metastatic patients at diagnosis will progress and metastasize within five years of primary nephrectomy. Identifying patients at high risk of tumor progression at an early stage after diagnosis is of importance to improve outcome and survival. Currently, in Sweden, the Mayo scoring system is used to divide tumors into low, intermediate or high risk for tumor progression.DNA methylation has been associated with tumor development and progression in different malignancies. In this thesis, Illumina Infinium HumanMeth27 BeadChip Arrays and Human Meth450K BeadChip Arrays have been used to evaluate the relationship between methylation and clinicopathological variables as well as ccRCC outcome in 45 and 115 patients.Our studies identified an association between higher level of promoter-associated DNA methylation and clinicopathological variables in ccRCC. There was a significant stepwise increase of average methylation from tumor-free tissue, via non-metastatic tumors to metastatic disease. Cluster analysis divided patients into two distinct groups that differed in average methylation levels, TNM stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade, tumor size, survival and tumor progression. We also presented two prognostic classifiers for non-metastatic tumors; the promoter methylation classifier (PMC) panel and the triple classifier. The PMC panel divided tumors depending on the methylation level, PMC low or PMC high, with significantly worse prognosis in the PMC high group. This data was verified in an independent, publically available cohort. The triple classifier was created using a combination of clinicopathological variables, previously identified CpGs biomarkers and a novel cluster analysis approach (Directed Cluster Analysis). The triple classifier had a higher specificity compared to the clinically used Mayo scoring system and predicted tumor progression with higher accuracy at a fixed sensitivity.The identification of two epigenetic classifiers that predicted outcome in non-metastatic ccRCC further establishes the role of DNA methylation as a prognostic marker. This knowledge can contribute to identification of patients with a high risk of tumor progression and can be of importance in the decision regarding adjuvant treatment post-nephrectomy.
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| 2. |
- Gaziano, Liam, et al.
(author)
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Mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction and cardiovascular disease : Observational and mendelian randomization analyses
- 2022
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In: Circulation. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 146:20, s. 1507-1517
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.METHODS: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million person-years of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25 917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank.RESULTS: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eGFR values <60 or >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, compared with those with eGFR between 60 and 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR <60 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, with a 14% (95% CI, 3%-27%) higher CHD risk per 5 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2 lower genetically predicted eGFR, but not for those with eGFR >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD.CONCLUSIONS: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function.
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| 3. |
- Mallikarjuna, Pramod, 1987-
(author)
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The role of transforming growth factor‐β signaling and hypoxia‐inducible factors in renal cell carcinoma
- 2019
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the cancer of the kidneys; about 1100 patients with RCC are diagnosed in Sweden each year. RCC can be classified into several subtypes, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is most common accounting to about 70% of all RCCs, and also the most lethal; papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) accounts to about 10%‐15%, while chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) accounts to about 5% of all RCCs. There is a need to study the distinguishing features of RCC subtypes to design treatment. Von Hippel‐Lindau tumor suppressor gene (VHL) is often inactivated in ccRCC, unlike in pRCC or chRCC. Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) is a cytokine involved in various biological processes such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, andepithelial‐mesenchymal transition. TGF‐β exerts its functions through canonical (Smad‐dependent) and non‐canonical (Smadindependent) signaling pathways. In the first study, we have shown that both canonical and non‐canonical TGF‐β signaling pathways are associated with ccRCC tumor progression. VHL is known to have a dampening effect on TGF‐β signaling in RCC. However, the effects of pVHL status on the TGF‐β signaling pathway in ccRCC and non-ccRCC has not yet been studied in detail. In the second study, we have investigated the effects of the TGF‐β signaling pathway in the presence or absence of pVHL in ccRCC and non‐ccRCC. We show that, in ccRCC, VHL has an inhibiting effect exclusively on canonical TGF‐β signaling, and has no effect on non‐canonical TGF‐β signaling via ALK5‐ICD. In non‐ccRCC, TGF‐β signaling did not have an effect on tumor progression. Further, we demonstrate that VHL, through its ubiquitin ligases activity ubiquitinates ALK5 in a K48 dependent manner and subjects it to proteasomal degradation. During the normoxic conditions, VHL is implicated in ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIFs). In hypoxic conditions or when the loss of VHL occurs, HIFs accumulates in the cytoplasm and enters the nucleus to initiate angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and tumor progression. In the third study, we have explored a potential synergistic cross‐talk between TGF‐β signaling and hypoxia in ccRCC. We demonstrate a correlation between TGF‐β signaling components and HIF‐1α/2α in ccRCC. We have also shown that TGF‐β signaling enhances the expression of HIF‐1α/2α and their target genes even under normoxic conditions, dependent on the kinase activity of ALK5 and dictated by the status of VHL. We present novel data that the synergistic crosstalk between hypoxia and TGF‐β is orchestrated through interactions between ALK5 and HIF‐1α/2α. HIF‐3α is only limited studied, compared with HIF‐1α and HIF‐2α. In the fourth study, we have analyzed the roles of HIF‐3α in ccRCC and pRCC and show that HIF‐3α is associated with advanced stage and metastasized tumors. We also found that HIF‐3α is associated with TRAF6, a crucial component of non‐canonical TGF‐β signaling.
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| 4. |
- Abu-Ghanem, Yasmin, et al.
(author)
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Limitations of Available Studies Prevent Reliable Comparison Between Tumour Ablation and Partial Nephrectomy for Patients with Localised Renal Masses : A Systematic Review from the European Association of Urology Renal Cell Cancer Guideline Panel
- 2020
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In: European Urology Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 2588-9311. ; 3:4, s. 423-442
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The European Association of Urology (EAU) Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Guideline Panel performed a protocol-driven systematic review (SR) on thermal ablation (TA) compared with partial nephrectomy (PN) for T1N0M0 renal masses, in order to provide evidence to support its recommendations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and only comparative studies published between 2000 and 2019 were included. Twenty-six nonrandomised comparative studies were included, recruiting a total of 167 80 patients. Risk of bias (RoB) assessment revealed high or uncertain RoB across all studies, with the vast majority being retrospective, observational studies with poorly matched controls and short follow-up. Limited data showed TA to be safe, but its long-term oncological effectiveness compared with PN remains uncertain. A quality assessment of pre-existing SRs (n = 11) on the topic, using AMSTAR, revealed that all SRs had low confidence rating, with all but two SRs being rated critically low. In conclusion, the current data are inadequate to make any strong and clear conclusions regarding the clinical effectiveness of TA for treating T1N0M0 renal masses compared with PN. Therefore, TA may be cautiously considered an alternative to PN for T1N0M0 renal masses, but patients must be counselled carefully regarding the prevailing uncertainties. We recommend specific steps to improve the evidence base based on robust primary and secondary studies.Patient summary: In this report, we looked at the literature to determine the effectiveness of thermoablation (TA) in the treatment of small kidney tumours compared with surgical removal. We found that TA could cautiously be offered as an option due to many remaining uncertainties regarding its effectiveness.
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| 5. |
- Abu-Ghanem, Yasmin, et al.
(author)
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Should patients with low-risk renal cell carcinoma be followed differently after nephron-sparing surgery vs radical nephrectomy?
- 2021
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In: BJU International. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1464-4096 .- 1464-410X. ; 128:3, s. 386-394
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To investigate whether pT1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) should be followed differently after partial (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN) based on a retrospective analysis of a multicentre database (RECUR).Subjects: A retrospective study was conducted in 3380 patients treated for nonmetastatic RCC between January 2006 and December 2011 across 15 centres from 10 countries, as part of the RECUR database project. For patients with pT1 clear-cell RCC, patterns of recurrence were compared between RN and PN according to recurrence site. Univariate and multivariate models were used to evaluate the association between surgical approach and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM).Results: From the database 1995 patients were identified as low-risk patients (pT1, pN0, pNx), of whom 1055 (52.9%) underwent PN. On multivariate analysis, features associated with worse RFS included tumour size (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.39; P < 0.001), nuclear grade (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.73–3.08; P < 0.001), tumour necrosis (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.03–2.3; P = 0.037), vascular invasion (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.4; P = 0.005) and positive surgical margins (HR 4.4, 95% CI 2.3–8.5; P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis of CSM revealed that the survival of patients with recurrence after PN was significantly better than those with recurrence after RN (P = 0.02). While the above-mentioned risk factors were associated with prognosis, type of surgery alone was not an independent prognostic variable for RFS nor CSM. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study.Conclusion: Our results showed that follow-up protocols should not rely solely on stage and type of primary surgery. An optimized regimen should also include validated risk factors rather than type of surgery alone to select the best imaging method and to avoid unnecessary imaging. A follow-up of more than 3 years should be considered in patients with pT1 tumours after RN. A novel follow-up strategy is proposed.
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| 6. |
- Abu-Ghanem, Yasmin, et al.
(author)
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The Impact of Histological Subtype on the Incidence, Timing, and Patterns of Recurrence in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma After Surgery : Results from RECUR Consortium
- 2021
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In: European Urology Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 2588-9311. ; 4:3, s. 473-482
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Current follow-up strategies for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after curative surgery rely mainly on risk models and the treatment delivered, regardless of the histological subtype.Objective: To determine the impact of RCC histological subtype on recurrence and to examine the incidence, pattern, and timing of recurrences to improve follow-up recommendations.Design, setting, and participants: This study included consecutive patients treated surgically with curative intention (ie, radical and partial nephrectomy) for nonmetastatic RCC (cT1–4, M0) between January 2006 and December 2011 across 15 centres from 10 countries, as part of the euRopEan association of urology renal cell carcinoma guidelines panel Collaborative multicenter consortium for the studies of follow-Up and recurrence patterns in Radically treated renal cell carcinoma patients (RECUR) database project.Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The impact of histological subtype (ie, clear cell RCC [ccRCC], papillary RCC [pRCC], and chromophobe RCC [chRCC]) on recurrence-free survival (RFS) was assessed via univariate and multivariate analyses, adjusting for potential interactions with important variables (stage, grade, risk score, etc.) Patterns of recurrence for all histological subtypes were compared according to recurrence site and risk criteria.Results and limitations: Of the 3331 patients, 62.2% underwent radical nephrectomy and 37.8% partial nephrectomy. A total of 2565 patients (77.0%) had ccRCC, 535 (16.1%) had pRCC, and 231 (6.9%) had chRCC. The median postoperative follow-up period was 61.7 (interquartile range: 47–83) mo. Patients with ccRCC had significantly poorer 5-yr RFS than patients with pRCC and chRCC (78% vs 86% vs 91%, p = 0.001). The most common sites of recurrence for ccRCC were the lung and bone. Intermediate-/high-risk pRCC patients had an increased rate of lymphatic recurrence, both mediastinal and retroperitoneal, while recurrence in chRCC was rare (8.2%), associated with higher stage and positive margins, and predominantly in the liver and bone. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study.Conclusions: The main histological subtypes of RCC exhibit a distinct pattern and dynamics of recurrence. Results suggest that intermediate- to high-risk pRCC may benefit from cross-sectional abdominal imaging every 6 mo until 2 yr after surgery, while routine imaging might be abandoned for chRCC except for abdominal computed tomography in patients with advanced tumour stage or positive margins.Patient summary: In this analysis of a large database from 15 countries around Europe, we found that the main histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma have a distinct pattern and dynamics of recurrence. Patients should be followed differently according to subtype and risk score.
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| 7. |
- Alcala, Karine, et al.
(author)
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The relationship between blood pressure and risk of renal cell carcinoma
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1464-3685 .- 0300-5771. ; 51:4, s. 1317-1327
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The relation between blood pressure and kidney cancer risk is well established but complex and different study designs have reported discrepant findings on the relative importance of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). In this study, we sought to describe the temporal relation between diastolic and SBP with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk in detail.METHODS: Our study involved two prospective cohorts: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study and UK Biobank, including >700 000 participants and 1692 incident RCC cases. Risk analyses were conducted using flexible parametric survival models for DBP and SBP both separately as well as with mutuality adjustment and then adjustment for extended risk factors. We also carried out univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses (DBP: ninstruments = 251, SBP: ninstruments = 213) to complement the analyses of measured DBP and SBP.RESULTS: In the univariable analysis, we observed clear positive associations with RCC risk for both diastolic and SBP when measured ≥5 years before diagnosis and suggestive evidence for a stronger risk association in the year leading up to diagnosis. In mutually adjusted analysis, the long-term risk association of DBP remained, with a hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation increment 10 years before diagnosis (HR10y) of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.10-1.30), whereas the association of SBP was attenuated (HR10y: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.91-1.10). In the complementary multivariable MR analysis, we observed an odds ratio for a 1-SD increment (ORsd) of 1.34 (95% CI: 1.08-1.67) for genetically predicted DBP and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56-0.88) for genetically predicted SBP.CONCLUSION: The results of this observational and MR study are consistent with an important role of DBP in RCC aetiology. The relation between SBP and RCC risk was less clear but does not appear to be independent of DBP.
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| 8. |
- Almdalal, T., et al.
(author)
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Clinical T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma, Not Always a Harmless Disease-A National Register Study
- 2022
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In: European Urology Open Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2666-1691 .- 2666-1683. ; 39, s. 22-28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is typically considered a curable dis-ease, irrespective of the choice of local treatment modality.& nbsp;Objective: To identify factors associated with the risk of local and distant recur-rence, and overall survival (OS) in patients with primary nonmetastatic clinical T1a RCC.& nbsp;Design, setting, and participants: A population-based nationwide register study of all 1935 patients with cT1a RCC, diagnosed during 2005-2012, identified through The National Swedish Kidney Cancer Register, was conducted.& nbsp;Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Outcome variables were recur-rence (local or distant) and OS. Possible explanatory variables included tumor size, RCC type, T stage, surgical technique, age, and gender. Associations with disease recurrence and OS were evaluated by multivariable regression and Cox multivari-ate analyses, respectively.& nbsp;& nbsp;Results and limitations: Among 1935 patients, 938 were treated with radical nephrectomy, 738 with partial nephrectomy, and 169 with ablative treatments, while 90 patients had no surgery. Seventy-eight (4%) patients were upstaged to pT3. Local or metastatic recurrences occurred in 145 (7.5%) patients, significantly more often after ablation (17.8%). The risk of recurrence was associated with tumor size, upstaging, and ablation. Larger tumor size, disease recurrence, and older age adversely affected OS, whereas partial nephrectomy and chromophobe RCC (chRCC) were associated with improved survival. Limitations include register design and a lack of comorbidity or performance status data.& nbsp;Conclusions: Upstaging and recurrence occurred, respectively, in 4.0% and 7.5% of patients with nonmetastatic RCCs <= 4 cm. Tumor size upstaging and ablation were associated with the risk for recurrence, while tumor size and recurrence were associated with decreased OS. Patients with chRCC and partial nephrectomy had prolonged OS in a real-world setting.& nbsp;Patient summary: We studied factors that may influence the risk of disease recurrence and overall survival, in a large nationwide patient cohort having non metastatic renal cell carcinoma < 4 cm. Tumor size, tumor type, and treatment were associated with the risk of recurrence and overall death. Partial nephrectomy prolonged overall survival. (C)2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Association of Urology.
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| 9. |
- Almdalal, Tarik, et al.
(author)
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Predictive characteristics for disease recurrence and overall survival in non-metastatic clinical T1 renal cell carcinoma : results from the National Swedish Kidney Cancer Register
- 2023
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In: Scandinavian journal of urology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2168-1805 .- 2168-1813. ; 57:1-6, s. 67-74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectivePatients with clinical T1 renal cell carcinoma (cT1RCC) have risks for recurrence and reduced overall survival despite being in the best prognostic group. This study aimed to evaluate the association of different treatments on disease recurrence and overall survival using clinical and pathological characteristics in a nation-wide cT1RCC cohort.Materials and methodsA total of 4,965 patients, registered in the National Swedish Kidney Cancer Register (NSKCR) between 2005 and 2014, with ≥ 5-years follow-up were identified: 3,040 males and 1,925 females, mean age 65 years. Times to recurrence and overall survival were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox regression models.ResultsAge, TNM-stage, tumor size, RCC-type, and performed treatment were all associated with disease recurrence. Patients selected for ablative treatments had increased risk for recurrent disease: hazard ratio (HR) = 3.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.69–5.32]. In multivariate analyses, age, gender, tumor size, RCC-type, N-stage, recurrence and performed treatment were all independently associated with overall survival. Patients with chRCC had a 41% better overall survival (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.44–0.78; p < 0.001) than ccRCC. Patients treated with partial nephrectomy (PN) had an 18% better overall survival (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71–0.95, p < 0.001) than patients treated with radical nephrectomy.ConclusionsAge, gender, T-stage, tumor size, RCC type and treatment modality are all associated with risk of recurrence. Furthermore, age, male gender, tumor size, N-stage and recurrence are associated with reduced overall survival. Patients with chRCC, compared with ccRCC and pRCC patients, and PN compared with RN treated patients, had an advantageous overall survival, indicating a possible survival advantage of nephron sparing treatment.
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