KCA-Funded Research Published in 2024

Several researchers who received funding from the Kidney Cancer Association published exciting new findings in 2024 based on their work. These papers and presentations are the important work of better understanding how kidney cancer works and uncovering new and more effective ways to treat it. Read on for a summary of these publications.

New kidney cancer-specific quality of life tool

Dr. Cristiane Bergerot of Grupo Oncoclinicas in Brazil developed a patient-centered health-related quality of life (HQROL) assessment tool tailored to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients following a psychosocial-focused KCA research grant in 2021. Since then, along with inputs from kidney cancer patient advocates, Bergerot continued to refine the tool to ensure that patient-reported outcomes and critical patient concerns, often overlooked in research, can be integrated into care delivery. The 12-item questionnaire includes cancer-related, emotional, and physical categories addressing areas including energy and pain, depression, and physical activity. Bergerot plans to further validate the tool, which could replace existing HRQOL measures in kidney cancer-specific clinical circumstances.

Publication: Development of a patient-centered health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): A three-phase study.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(4_suppl), 365-365 – January 2024

PIM1 kinase expression could be modulated with existing drugs.

Dr. Sheldon Holder of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University received a 2022 KCA Trailblazer Award to examine the connection between the signaling molecule IL-6 and the PIM1 kinase which is involved in cancer-related cellular activity like cell proliferation and is present in higher quantities in renal cell carcinoma. Blocking IL-6 reduced PIM1 expression so, especially since multiple IL-6-specific drugs already exist, this could be an important pathway to target for treatment.

Publication: IL-6 and PIM1 expression in renal cell carcinoma.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(4_suppl), 470-470 – January 2024

Pathogenic Role of RNASET2 in Clear Cell RCC

KCA-funded investigator Dr. Brandon Manley of the Moffitt Cancer Center has uncovered the pathogenic roles of RNASET2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common RCC subtype. This research identifies novel mechanisms underlying the disease, creating opportunities for innovative therapeutic approaches that could improve survival and overall patient outcomes.

Publication: Pathogenic Roles for RNASET2 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Laboratory Investigation, 104(5), 102041 – February 2024

Single-cell mtDNA dynamics in tumor research

Supported by a KCA Young Investigator Award in 2019, Dr. Ed Reznik of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center published a study in Nature Genetics exploring the co-regulation of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in tumors at the single-cell level. This cutting-edge research provides a foundational understanding of tumor biology, paving the way for highly targeted therapies and potential breakthroughs in personalized medicine for kidney cancer patients.

Publication: Single-cell mtDNA dynamics in tumors is driven by coregulation of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes
Nature Genetics, 56(5), 889-899 – May 2024

The association of fructose and the gut microbiome on cancer survival

2023 Trailblazer Award recipient Dr. Brendan Guercio of the University of Rochester examined the relationship between dietary fructose and immune checkpoint blockade in kidney cancer and found no impact on progression-free survival in renal cell carcinoma patients. In contrast, urothelial carcinoma patients did experience shorter progression-free survival. This discrepancy suggests further study to better characterize cancer biology and how fructose as part of the gut microbiome could lead to potential beneficial dietary interventions.

Publication: Associations of dietary fructose with survival of patients (pts) with metastatic cancer of the urothelium (UC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(16_suppl), 4571-4571 – May 2024