Microdiversity Predicts Outcome in Children's Kidney Cancer
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 08 Feb 2015 |
|
Image: CT Scan of 11-centimeter Wilms' tumor of the right kidney in a 13-month-old patient (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).
A prognosis for the outcome of Wilms' tumor, the most common type of kidney cancer in children, can be determined by examining the genetic variation in a biopsy specimen as small as one millimeter in diameter.
Investigators at Lund University (Sweden) have termed genetic variation in such minute samples as microvariation or microdiversity. They established the importance of this type of variation by analyzing millimeter sized specimens from 44 cases of Wilms' tumor. All 44 patients had been treated with chemotherapy and while most recovered, a few—whose cancers demonstrated the greatest genetic variation between cells—developed metastases and died. Survival was 100% for patients lacking microdiversity.
Very few markers have been found in childhood kidney cancer that can differentiate between aggressive and less dangerous cancers. "The reason for this is that researchers have been looking for certain characteristics, such as mutations, in a single sample from each patient. However, when there is so much variation between the cells, one sample is not enough to determine the properties of the tumor," said senior author Dr. David Gisselsson, a researcher in clinical genetics at Lund University. "Tumors in children are also genetically unstable, and the greater the variation between the cells, the more malignant the cancer. The microvariation is a much better predictor of the risk of metastasis and death than the presence of individual mutations. This is an entirely new way of assessing how dangerous a tumor is."
The study was published in the January 27, 2015, online edition of the journal Nature Communications.
Related Links:
Lund University
Investigators at Lund University (Sweden) have termed genetic variation in such minute samples as microvariation or microdiversity. They established the importance of this type of variation by analyzing millimeter sized specimens from 44 cases of Wilms' tumor. All 44 patients had been treated with chemotherapy and while most recovered, a few—whose cancers demonstrated the greatest genetic variation between cells—developed metastases and died. Survival was 100% for patients lacking microdiversity.
Very few markers have been found in childhood kidney cancer that can differentiate between aggressive and less dangerous cancers. "The reason for this is that researchers have been looking for certain characteristics, such as mutations, in a single sample from each patient. However, when there is so much variation between the cells, one sample is not enough to determine the properties of the tumor," said senior author Dr. David Gisselsson, a researcher in clinical genetics at Lund University. "Tumors in children are also genetically unstable, and the greater the variation between the cells, the more malignant the cancer. The microvariation is a much better predictor of the risk of metastasis and death than the presence of individual mutations. This is an entirely new way of assessing how dangerous a tumor is."
The study was published in the January 27, 2015, online edition of the journal Nature Communications.
Related Links:
Lund University
New
Gold Member
Immunochromatographic Assay
CRYPTO Cassette
New
ESR Analyzer
TEST1 2.0
New
Anterior Nasal Specimen Collection Swabs
53-1195-TFS, 53-0100-TFS, 53-0101-TFS, 53-4582-TFS
Latest Pathology News
- Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma
- Clinicopathologic Study Supports Exclusion of Cervical Serous Carcinoma from WHO Classification
- Mobile-Compatible AI-Powered System to Revolutionize Malaria Diagnosis
- Compact AI-Powered Microscope Enables Rapid Cost-Effective Cancer Scoring
- New Method Enables Precise Detection of Nanoplastics in Body
- AI-Powered Tool Improves Cancer Tissue Analysis
- AI Platform Uses 3D Visualization to Reveal Disease Biomarkers in Multiomics Data
- AI Tool Detects Early Signs of Blood Mutations Linked to Cancer and Heart Disease
- Multi-Omics AI Model Improves Preterm Birth Prediction Accuracy
- AI-Based Approach Diagnoses Colorectal Cancer from Gut Microbiota
- Topical Fluorescent Imaging Technique Detects Basal Cell Carcinoma
- AI Detects Early Prostate Cancer Missed by Pathologists
- AI Model Simultaneously Detects Multiple Genetic Colorectal Cancer Markers in Tissue Samples
- New Technology to Accelerate Diagnosis of Diabetic Kidney Disease
- Skin-Based Biomarkers to Enable Early Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- AI Tools Analyze Kidney Disease at Cellular Level to Help Tailor Treatments
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Gold Nanoparticles to Improve Accuracy of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Ovarian cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers, in part because it rarely shows clear symptoms in its early stages, and diagnosis is often complex. Current approaches make it difficult to accurately... Read more
Simultaneous Cell Isolation Technology Improves Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy
Accurate cancer diagnosis remains a challenge, as liquid biopsy techniques often fail to capture the complexity of tumor biology. Traditional systems for isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) vary in... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Routine Blood Draws Could Detect Epigenetic Biomarkers for Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, yet predicting individual risk remains a persistent challenge. Traditional risk factors, while useful, do not fully capture biological changes... Read more
Single Cell RNA Sequencing Could Enable Non-Invasive Blood Disorder Diagnosis
Hematologic disorders are often diagnosed using painful, invasive, and expensive bone marrow aspiration or biopsy procedures. These approaches limit patient compliance and broader utility, leaving a need... Read more
Blood Test Identifies HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancers 10 Years Before Symptoms
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes around 70% of head and neck cancers in the United States, and cases are rising each year. Unlike cervical cancers linked to HPV, there is currently no screening test for... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments
Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more
Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer
Platelets are widely recognized for their role in blood clotting and scab formation, but they also play a crucial role in immune defense by detecting pathogens and recruiting immune cells.... Read more
Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe, with more than 564,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths annually. Metastatic breast cancer is rising in younger populations and remains the leading cause... Read more
Novel Multiplex Assay Supports Diagnosis of Autoimmune Vasculitis
Autoimmune vasculitis and related conditions are difficult to diagnose quickly and accurately, often requiring multiple tests to confirm the presence of specific autoantibodies. Traditional methods can... Read more
Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more
Simple Genetic Testing Could Predict Treatment Success in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients starting therapy often face a choice between interferon beta and glatiramer acetate, two equally established and well-tolerated first-line treatments. Until now, the decision... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Microfluidic Platform Assesses Neutrophil Function in Sepsis Patients
Sepsis arises from infection and immune dysregulation, with neutrophils playing a central role in its progression. However, current clinical tools are unable to both isolate these cells and assess their... Read more
New Diagnostic Method Confirms Sepsis Infections Earlier
Sepsis remains one of the most dangerous medical emergencies, often progressing rapidly and becoming fatal without timely intervention. Each hour of delayed treatment in septic shock reduces patient survival... Read more
New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection
Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more
Portable Spectroscopy Rapidly and Noninvasively Detects Bacterial Species in Vaginal Fluid
Vaginal health depends on maintaining a balanced microbiome, particularly certain Lactobacillus species. Disruption of this balance, known as dysbiosis, can increase risks of infection, pregnancy complications,... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine
The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Rapid Diagnostic Technology Utilizes Breath Samples to Detect Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are leading causes of illness and death worldwide, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.... Read more
Industry
view channel
Werfen and VolitionRx Partner to Advance Diagnostic Testing for Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to produce abnormal antibodies, making the blood “stickier” than normal. This condition increases the risk of... Read more
