Michigan Medicine advocates for additional kidney cancer testing

Recent research from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center and Department of Pathology suggests that certain patients could benefit from additional kidney cancer testing. Key findings from the study are detailed in a press release.

The study aimed to fill a gap in kidney cancer diagnosis, the potential for false negatives. The current testing standard for microphthalmia-associated transcription factor renal cell carcinoma (MiTF RCC) is the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) test. The FISH tests for TFE3 and TFEB gene rearrangements but can sometimes generate false negatives, restricting patient treatment, according to Michigan Medicine.

The scientists found an association between a negative FISH result and gene TRIM63 overexpression. They used additional genome testing and “found 20 cases where tumors were positive for TRIM63 on a biomarker level, but FISH negative.” Nearly three quarters (70%) had MiTF gene rearrangement.

The study is published in Modern Pathology.