Those suffering with renal cell carcinoma (a kind of kidney cancer that starts in the lining of small tubes of the kidney) did not previously have any sort of tumor marker that could have helped them be prepared for their potential diagnosis. Now, researchers are using gene expression (which is the process by which information encoded in a gene is used to direct the synthesis of a functional gene product) of MN/CA9 as a potential tumor marker for indicating the possibilities of having RCC. MN/CA9 is a cell surface glycoprotein and a tumor-associated antigen, it allows for the regulation of proliferation and oncogenesis in the cell. Researchers tested this idea of being able to use MN/CA9 as a tumor marker by using samples of kidney tissue, urine, and blood samples. Tissue wise they compared kidneys containing benign tumors as well as malignant and healthy kidneys. This gave researchers a good basis as to whether or not MN/CA9 could be a good tumor marker for those with RCC. It was found that the three patients who had metastatic RCC had the MN/CA9 gene expression present in their blood sample. This could potentially be a big step in medicine and being able to catch RCC early enough that a prognosis can begin for an individual.
Interventions in cancer prevention and therapies are so important being that they can determine life and death for so many people. Researchers finding that blood samples can help determine if certain individuals have the gene expression expected to be seen in those with renal cell carcinoma, physicians can begin prognosis and treatment earlier on than ever before. Also, if we were able to determine this gene expression with something as minimally invasive as a blood sample could be revolutionary in determining what other gene expressions can be seen in blood samples to help be proactive for those with certain genes leading to cancer.
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