Possibilities of Molecular Diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Histologically defined subtypes of renal cell tumors (clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, oncocytoma) have to be accepted as distinct tumor entities based on specific and distinct molecular alterations and different prognosis. Immunochemistry and genetic analysis can be used for diagnosis in uncertain cases and are more and more important for individual therapy selection. Differentiation of prognosis in each subtype seems possible by using molecular signatures of primary tumors allowing individual assessment of aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Molecular markers from blood as well as from tumor tissues can predict therapy response in the future. In order to transfer these promising data into clinical practice it is mandatory to develop validation studies which have to be performed based on defined criteria similar to those for therapeutic clinical trials.