Kidney cancer or Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) has many different subtypes and most therapies have been developed for the most common type, called “clear-cell kidney cancer”. Patients with other types of kidney cancer do not respond as well to these therapies. Unfortunately, because these different subtypes of kidney cancer often look the same under the microscope, many are misdiagnosed. A more refined molecular subtyping of kidney cancer is essential for more accurate diagnosis, its earlier detection, and for treatment selection.
Dr. Viswanathan will conduct genomic and RNA assays on the circulating tumor cells to characterize the molecular features of the different subtypes of kidney cancer.
In addition, although some patients with localized kidney cancer can be cured with surgery, many experience a recurrence. In high-risk patients after their surgery, Dr. Viswanathan will measure the number of circulating tumor cells to assess the minimal residual disease.
In summary, this project will leverage the novelty of the detection technology to address two long-standing challenges in kidney cancer.
(1) Develop a noninvasive and molecular assay to accurately diagnose the subtype of a kidney cancer in a given patient.
(2) Detect small levels of cancer in patients who have undergone surgery and are on surveillance for residual cancer and its spread.
