The cancer-retina antigen recoverin as a potential biomarker for renal tumors

Epigenomic Profiling Advises Therapeutic Potential of Leukotriene Receptor Inhibitors for a Subset of Triple-Negative Breast Tumors

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive molecular subtype, with a poor survival rate compared to others subtypes. For a long time, chemotherapy was the only systemic treatment for TNBC, and the identification of actionable molecular targets might ultimately improve the prognosis for TNBC patients. We performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation at CpG islands on a collection of one hundred ten breast carcinoma samples and six normal breast tissue samples using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing with the XmaI restriction enzyme (XmaI-RRBS) and identified a subset of TNBC samples with significant hypomethylation at the LTB4R/LTB4R2 genes' CpG islands, including CpG dinucleotides covered with cg12853742 and cg21886367 HumanMethylation 450K microarray probes. Abnormal DNA hypomethylation of this region in TNBC compared to normal samples was confirmed by bisulfite Sanger sequencing. Gene expression generally anticorrelates with promoter methylation, and thus, the promoter hypomethylation detected and confirmed in our study might be revealed as an indirect marker of high LTB4R/LTB4R2 expression using a simple methylation-sensitive PCR test. Analysis of RNA-seq expression and DNA methylation data from the TCGA dataset demonstrates that the expression of the LTB4R and LTB4R2 genes significantly negatively correlates with DNA methylation at both CpG sites cg12853742 (R = -0.4, p = 2.6 × 10-6; R = -0.21, p = 0.015) and cg21886367 (R = -0.45, p = 7.3 × 10-8; R = -0.24, p = 0.005), suggesting the upregulation of these genes in tumors with abnormal hypomethylation of their CpG island. Kaplan-Meier analysis using the TCGA-BRCA gene expression and clinical data revealed poorer overall survival for TNBC patients with an upregulated LTB4R. To this day, only the leukotriene inhibitor LY255283 has been tested on an MCF-7/DOX cell line, which is a luminal A breast cancer molecular subtype. Other studies compare the effects of Montelukast and Zafirlukast (inhibitors of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor, which is different from LTB4R/LTB4R2) on the MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) cell line, with high methylation and low expression levels of LTB4R. In our study, we assess the therapeutic effects of various drugs (including leukotriene receptor inhibitors) with the DepMap gene effect and drug sensitivity data for TNBC cell lines with hypomethylated and upregulated LTB4R/LTB4R2 genes. LY255283, Minocycline, Silibinin, Piceatannol, Mitiglinide, 1-Azakenpaullone, Carbetocin, and Pim-1-inhibitor-2 can be considered as candidates for the additional treatment of TNBC patients with tumors demonstrating LTB4R/LTB4R2 hypomethylation/upregulation. Finally, our results suggest that the epigenetic status of leukotriene B4 receptors is a novel, potential, predictive, and prognostic biomarker for TNBC. These findings might improve individualized therapy for TNBC patients by introducing new therapeutic adjuncts as anticancer agents.

Cancer-Retina Antigens in the Urine of Bladder and Prostate Cancer Patients

It has recently been shown that combination of arrestin and recoverin can serve as an effective urinary biomarker for renal cell carcinoma with sensitivity and specificity of over 92%. In this work, we studied the possibility of detecting these antigens in the urine in other urological oncological diseases - bladder cancer (BC) and prostate cancer (PCa). Urine samples from 40 BC patients and 40 PCa patients were analyzed using an ultrasensitive microarray immunoassay with a detection limit of 0.1 pg/ml. It was shown that in BC the sensitivity of determining combination of arrestin with recoverin is 58% (AUC 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.86), while in PCa it is 60% (AUC 0.7, 95% CI 0.68-0.88). It has been established that in patients with bladder and prostate cancer who had a positive test, these antigens are not detected in 90% of cases after removal of the tumor. In the future, the obtained results could become the basis for developing new approaches for timely detection of relapses of such diseases and treatment control, as well as for the development of new diagnostic methods.

Non-Invasive Diagnostics of Renal Cell Carcinoma Using Ultrasensitive Immunodetection of Cancer-Retina Antigens

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common urological malignancy with a high mortality and low detection rate. One of the approaches to improving its diagnostics may be the search for new non-invasive biomarkers in liquid biopsy and development of more sensitive methods for their detection. Cancer-retina antigens, which are known to be aberrantly expressed in malignant tumors, are present in liquid biopsy at extremely low concentrations. Using the developed multiplex immunoassay with a detection limit of 0.1 pg/ml, urine and serum samples of 89 patients with RCC and 50 non-cancer patients were examined for the presence of cancer-retina antigens (arrestin, recoverin, rhodopsin kinase, and transducin); the difference between the RCC and control groups was evaluated with the χ² test. The results showed high diagnostic efficiency of a combination of arrestin and recoverin: at a threshold of 0.1 pg/ml, the sensitivity was 96%, specificity 92%, and AUC = 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.93-0.99). Seven days after nephrectomy, the concentration of the antigens returned to the level characteristic of the control group. Therefore, arrestin in a combination with recoverin can serve as a diagnostic non-invasive urinary biomarker of RCC.

Can new immunoassay techniques improve bladder cancer diagnostics With protein biomarkers?

The search for new diagnostic tests for cancer or ways to improve existing tests is primarily driven by the desire to identify the disease as early as possible. In this report, we summarize the current knowledge of the most promising diagnostic protein bladder cancer (BC) markers reported over the last decade. Unfortunately, analysis of published data suggests that a reliable, highly sensitive biomarker test-system based on ELISA for detecting BC has not yet been developed. The use of more sensitive assays to detect ultra-low concentrations of biomarkers not available for ELISA, could be very beneficial. Based on the literature and pilot experimental data, we conclude that a highly sensitive immunoassay using microarrays and magnetic labels, could be an effective and cheap technique suitable for the detection of diagnostically relevant BC biomarkers.

Cancer-Associated Retinopathy due to Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma

An 84-year-old female presented with bilateral scotomas and progressive nyctalopia over 1 year. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 in both eyes with reduced color vision. Goldmann visual field showed bilateral cecocentral scotomas and generalized constriction of the visual fields. This led to an electroretinogram showing an electronegative pattern consistent with autoimmune retinopathies. Infectious workup was negative. Anti-retinal antibodies were positive, leading to a presumed diagnosis of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR). Imaging showed a previously unknown left renal lower pole mass, and she underwent a radical nephrectomy. Biopsy showed nuclear grade-3 clear cell renal carcinoma staged T1. The patient was treated with oral prednisone with no ocular improvement. We report on a rare case of clear cell renal carcinoma causing CAR. CAR is an important paraneoplastic syndrome to diagnose since the majority of ocular cases precede other manifestations of malignancy. Therefore, a timely diagnosis of CAR can be lifesaving or at least life-extending.

cg04448376, cg24387542, cg08548498, and cg14621323 as a Novel Signature to Predict Prognosis in Kidney Renal Papillary Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

DNA methylation plays a vital role in prognosis prediction of cancers. In this study, we aimed to identify novel DNA methylation site biomarkers and create an efficient methylated site model for predicting survival in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP).

METHODS

DNA methylation and gene expression profile data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential methylated genes (DMGs) and differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified and then searched for the hub genes. Cox proportional hazards regression was applied to identify DNA methylated site biomarkers from the hub genes. Kaplan-Meier survival and ROC analyses were used to validate the effective prognostic ability of the methylation gene site biomarker. The biomarker sites were validated in the GEO cohorts. The GO and KEGG annotation was done to explore the biological function of DNA methylated site signature.

RESULTS

Nine DMGs with opposite expression patterns containing 47 methylated sites were identified. Finally, four methylated sites were identified using the hazard regression model (cg04448376, cg24387542, cg08548498, and cg14621323) located in UTY, LGALS9B, SLPI, and PFN3, respectively. These sites classified patients into high- and low-risk groups in the training cohort. The 5-year survival rates for patients with low-risk and high-risk scores were 97.5% and 75.9% (P < 0.001). The prognostic accuracy and signature methylation sites were validated in the test (TCGA, n = 87) and GEO cohorts (n = 14). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the signature was an independent prediction prognostic factor for KIRP. Based on this analysis, we developed methylated site signature nomogram that predicts an individual's risk of survival. Functional analysis suggested that these signature genes are involved in the biological processes of protein binding.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the methylated gene site signature might be a powerful prognostic tool for evaluating survival rate and guiding tailored therapy for KIRP patients.

Screening of Methylation Gene Sites as Prognostic Signature in Lung Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Most lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage and have poor prognosis. DNA methylation plays an important role in the prognosis prediction of cancers. The objective of this study was to identify new DNA methylation sites as biomarkers for LUAD prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We downloaded DNA methylation data from The Cancer Genome Atlas data portal. Cox proportional hazard regression model and random survival forest algorithm were applied to identify the DNA-methylation sites. Methylation of sites were validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus cohorts. Function annotation were done to explore the biological function of DNA methylated sites signature.

RESULTS

Six DNA methylation sites were identified as prognosis signature. The signature yielded acceptable discrimination between the high-risk group and low-risk group. The discrimination effect of this DNA methylation signature for the OS was obvious, with a median OS of 21.89 months vs. 17.74 months for high-risk vs. low-risk groups. This prognostic prediction model was validated by the test group and GEO dataset. The predictive survival value was higher for the prognostic prediction model than that for the tumor node metastasis stage. Adjuvant hemotherapy could not affect the prediction of the signature. Functional analysis indicated that these signature genes were involved in protein binding and cytoplasm.

CONCLUSION

We identified the prognostic signature for LUAD by combining six DNA methylation sites. This could service as potential robust and specificity signature in the prognosis prediction of LUAD.

Prognostic Value of DNA Methylation-Driven Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Study Based on Methylation and Transcriptome Analyses

Background

Few previous studies have comprehensively explored the level of DNA methylation and gene expression in ccRCC. The purpose of this study was to identify the key clear cell renal cell carcinoma- (ccRCC-) related DNA methylation-driven genes (MDG) and to build a prognostic model based on the level of DNA methylation.

Methods

RNA-seq transcriptome data and DNA methylation data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Based on the MethylMix algorithm, we obtain ccRCC-related MDG. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to investigate the correlation between patient overall survival and the methylation level of each MDG. Finally, a prognosis risk score was established based on a linear combination of the regression coefficient derived from the multivariate Cox regression model (β) multiplied with the methylation level of the gene.

Results

19 ccRCC-related MDG were identified. Three MDG (NCKAP1L, EVI2A, and BATF) were further screened and integrated into a prognostic risk score model, risk score = (3.710∗methylation level of NCKAP1L) + (-3.892∗methylation level of EVI2A) + (-3.907∗methylation level of BATF). The risk model was independent from conventional clinical characteristics as a prognostic factor for ccRCC (HR = 1.221, 95% confidence interval: 1.063-1.402, and P = 0.005). The joint survival analysis showed that the gene expression and methylation levels of the prognostic genes EVI2A and BATF were significantly related with prognosis.

Conclusion

This study provided an important bioinformatics foundation for in-depth studies of ccRCC DNA methylation.

Dendritic Cells in Anticancer Vaccination: Rationale for Ex Vivo Loading or In Vivo Targeting

Dendritic cells (DCs) have shown great potential as a component or target in the landscape of cancer immunotherapy. Different in vivo and ex vivo strategies of DC vaccine generation with different outcomes have been proposed. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated their efficacy and safety in cancer patients. However, there is no consensus regarding which DC-based vaccine generation method is preferable. A problem of result comparison between trials in which different DC-loading or -targeting approaches have been applied remains. The employment of different DC generation and maturation methods, antigens and administration routes from trial to trial also limits the objective comparison of DC vaccines. In the present review, we discuss different methods of DC vaccine generation. We conclude that standardized trial designs, treatment settings and outcome assessment criteria will help to determine which DC vaccine generation approach should be applied in certain cancer cases. This will result in a reduction in alternatives in the selection of preferable DC-based vaccine tactics in patient. Moreover, it has become clear that the application of a DC vaccine alone is not sufficient and combination immunotherapy with recent advances, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, should be employed to achieve a better clinical response and outcome.

A Qualitative Transcriptional Signature for Predicting Recurrence Risk for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated With Platinum-Taxane Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Resistance to platinum and taxane adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) is the main cause of the recurrence and poor prognosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS-OvCa) patients receiving platinum-taxane ACT after surgery. However, currently reported quantitative transcriptional signatures, which are commonly based on risk scores summarized from gene expression, are unsuitable for clinical application because of their high sensitivity to experimental batch effects and quality uncertainties of clinical samples. Using 226 samples of HGS-OvCa patients receiving platinum-taxane ACT in TCGA, we developed a qualitative transcriptional signature, consisting of four gene pairs whose within-samples relative expression orderings could robustly predict patient recurrence-free survival (RFS). In two independent test datasets, the predicted non-responders had significantly shorter RFS than the predicted responders (log-rank p < 0.05). In a test dataset containing data for patient pathological response state, the signature reclassified 12 out of 22 pathological complete response patients as non-responders and two out of 16 pathological non-complete response patients as responders. Notably, the 12 predicted non-responders in the pathological complete response group had significantly shorter RFS than the predicted responders (log-rank p = 0.0122). This qualitative transcriptional signature, which is insensitive to experimental batch effects and quality uncertainties of clinical samples, can individually identify HGS-OvCa patients who are more likely to benefit from platinum-taxane adjuvant chemotherapy.

Advances in the Development of Anticancer HSP-based Vaccines

Current advances in cancer treatment are based on the recent discoveries of molecular mechanisms of tumour maintenance. It was shown that heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a crucial role in the development of immune response against tumours. Thus, HSPs represent multifunctional agents not only with chaperone functions, but also possessing immunomodulatory properties. These properties are exploited for the development of HSP-based anticancer vaccines aimed to induce cytotoxic responses against tumours. To date, a number of strategies have been suggested to facilitate HSP-based vaccine production and to increase its effectiveness. The present review focuses on the current trend for the development of HSPbased vaccines aimed at inducing strong immunological tumour-specific responses against cancer cells of distinct etiology and localization.

Genome-wide methylotyping resolves breast cancer epigenetic heterogeneity and suggests novel therapeutic perspectives

Aim: To provide a breast cancer (BC) methylotype classification by genome-wide CpG islands bisulfite DNA sequencing. Materials & methods: XmaI-reduced representation bisulfite sequencing DNA methylation sequencing method was used to profile DNA methylation of 110 BC samples and 6 normal breast samples. Intrinsic DNA methylation BC subtypes were elicited by unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis, and cluster-specific differentially methylated genes were identified. Results & conclusion: Overall, six distinct BC methylotypes were identified. BC cell lines constitute a separate group extremely highly methylated at the CpG islands. In turn, primary BC samples segregate into two major subtypes, highly and moderately methylated. Highly and moderately methylated superclusters, each incorporate three distinct epigenomic BC clusters with specific features, suggesting novel perspectives for personalized therapy.

Comparative Role of Matrixins in Diagnostics of Parotid Gland Tumors

The benign and malignant neoplasms in parotid gland have similar clinical presentations despite different tumor growth rates. The study compared the clinical and morphological data as well as the results of ELISA for MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in salivary fluid yielded during primary examination of the patients with pleomorphic adenoma and adenocarcinoma of parotid gland. The examined biomarkers detected in salivary fluid in patients with various cancer types differed significantly (p≤0.05). The correlations between clinical identification of adenoma or adenocarcinoma, on the one hand, and the levels of MMP-8, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, on the other hand, makes it possible to use the latter as biomarkers for early detection and comprehensive noninvasive differential diagnostics of these neoplasms.

[Dental status as a predictive factor in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa]

The aim of this work was to study the influence of components of dental status on the local immunity of the oral cavity; we compared the results of the study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral mucosa and patients without neoplasm. The study involved 136 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa and 57 patients without neoplasms. In the role of the constituent characteristics of dental status were examined: the use of removable and fixed dentures, dental caries, dental plaque, sharp edges of fullings. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 8 and 9, as well as their tissue inhibitors 1 and 2 were assessed in oral fluid. The results suggest the influence of all factors on local immune status of the oral cavity as proved by the significant changes in MMPs level. The use of removable dentures resulted in the pronounced decrease of MMPs and should be considered in oral SSC screening and non-invasive diagnostics.

Autoantibody against arrestin-1 as a potential biomarker of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the second-most common uronephrological cancer. In the absence of specific symptoms, early diagnosis of RCC is challenging. Monitoring of the aberrant expression of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) and related autoantibody response is considered as a novel approach of RCC diagnostics. The aim of this study was to examine the aberrant expression of arrestin-1 in renal tumours, to investigate the possible epigenetic mechanism underlying arrestin-1 expression, and to assess the frequency of anti-arrestin-1 autoantibody response. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the presence of arrestin-1 in primary tumours and metastases of 39 patients with RCC and renal oncocytoma. Bisulfite sequencing was employed to analyse the methylation status of the promoter of the SAG gene encoding arrestin-1. Western blot analysis was performed to detect autoantibodies against arrestin-1 in serum samples of 36 RCC and oncocytoma patients. Arrestin-1 was found to be expressed in RCC (58.7% of cases) and renal oncocytoma (90% of cases) cells, while being absent in healthy kidney. The expression of arrestin-1 in RCC metastases was more prominent than in primary tumours. Hypomethylation of the SAG gene promoter is unlikely to be the mechanism for the aberrant expression of arrestin-1. Autoantibodies against arrestin-1 were detected in sera of 75% of RCC patients. Taken together, our findings suggest employment of autoantibody against arrestin-1 as biomarker of RCC.

Autoimmune retinopathy and optic neuropathy associated with enolase-positive renal oncocytoma

Purpose

To report a case of autoimmune retinopathy and optic neuropathy associated with an enolase-positive renal oncocytoma.

Observations

A 41-year-old man presented with subacute, painless, bilateral vision loss. On initial examination, visual acuity measured 20/125 OD and 20/1250 OS, and telangiectatic vessels were noted on the optic nerves and in the maculae. Goldmann perimetry showed bilateral, cecocentral scotomas, and electroretinography demonstrated reduced photopic and scotopic signals, concerning for autoimmune retinopathy. Serum testing showed multiple positive anti-optic nerve and anti-retinal antibodies, including to alpha-enolase. Extensive systemic workup was negative except for a large, exophytic, right renal mass. Biopsy was consistent with a benign oncocytoma, and immunohistochemical staining showed diffusely positive alpha-enolase staining. The patient was treated with a five-day course of intravenous methylprednisolone and plasmapheresis with minimal improvement. Surgical excision of the oncocytoma was performed. At 9-months post-operatively, visual acuity had improved to 20/40 OU, with corresponding improvement on visual field and electroretinography testing.

Conclusions and importance

To our knowledge, this is the first report of autoimmune retinopathy and optic neuropathy associated with a renal oncocytoma. The case highlights the importance of a thorough systemic workup in cases of suspected autoimmune retinopathy and reminds clinicians that even tumors considered benign can have distal effects on other organs.

The Role of DNA Methylation in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common kidney cancer and includes several molecular and histological subtypes with different clinical characteristics. While survival rates are high if RCC is diagnosed when still confined to the kidney and treated definitively, there are no specific diagnostic screening tests available and symptoms are rare in early stages of the disease. Management of advanced RCC has changed significantly with the advent of targeted therapies, yet survival is usually increased by months due to acquired resistance to these therapies. DNA methylation, the covalent addition of a methyl group to a cytosine, is essential for normal development and transcriptional regulation, but becomes altered commonly in cancer. These alterations result in broad transcriptional changes, including in tumor suppressor genes. Because DNA methylation is one of the earliest molecular changes in cancer and is both widespread and stable, its role in cancer biology, including RCC, has been extensively studied. In this review, we examine the role of DNA methylation in RCC disease etiology and progression, the preclinical use of DNA methylation alterations as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and the potential for DNA methylation-directed therapies.

Multiplex bead-based measurement of humoral immune responses against tumor-associated antigens in stage II melanoma patients of the EORTC18961 trial

Purpose: Determine the prognostic and predictive significance of tumor associated antigen (TAA)-specific serum antibodies in melanoma patients of a large adjuvant vaccination phase III trial. Patients and methods: Serum IgG antibodies were measured against a panel of 43 antigens by a bead-based multiplex assay in 970 stage II melanoma patients of the EORTC18961 trial, evaluating adjuvant ganglioside GM2-KLH/QS-21 vaccination versus observation. Primary end point was relapse-free survival (RFS). Patients' sera at baseline, after 12 and 48 weeks of study treatment and at the last available time point (at recurrence/remission) were evaluated. Results: Prognostic clinical variables are gender, surgical confirmation of lymph node-negative status, Breslow thickness and ulceration of the primary. Prognostic spontaneous antibody responses were associated with a significant dismal (GM2, Rhod_E2, SSX2) or good prognosis (CyclinB1, SCYE1v1) for RFS, distant metastasis-free (DMFS) or overall survival (OS). Predictive spontaneous antibody responses based on significant interaction with treatment were RhodN p = 0.02, Rab38 p = 0.04 for RFS, RhodE2 p = 0.006, Recoverin p = 0.04 for DMFS and RhodE2 p = 0.003; Recoverin p = 0.04, NA17.A p = 0.04, for OS respectively. The subgroups of patients according to antibody responses for RFS were determined for RhodN sero-negative (n = 849, HR = 1.07, p = 0.6); RhodN sero-positive (n = 121,HR = 0.42, p = 0.01) and Rab38 sero-negative (n = 682, HR = 1.12, p = 0.42), Rab38 sero-positive (n = 288, HR = 0.65, p = 0.04) patients respectively. Conclusion: We identified prognostic serum antibody responses against TAA in stage II melanoma patients. A set of antibody responses correlated with a beneficial outcome for GM2 vaccination.

Prognostic DNA methylation markers for renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review

AIM

Despite numerous published prognostic methylation markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), none of these have yet changed patient management. Our aim is to systematically review and evaluate the literature on prognostic DNA methylation markers for RCC.

MATERIALS & METHODS

We conducted an exhaustive search of PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE up to April 2017 and identified 49 publications. Studies were reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, assessed for their reporting quality using the Reporting Recommendations for Tumor Marker Prognostic Studies (REMARK) criteria, and were graded to determine the level of evidence (LOE) for each biomarker.

RESULTS

We identified promoter methylation of BNC1, SCUBE3, GATA5, SFRP1, GREM1, RASSF1A, PCDH8, LAD1 and NEFH as promising prognostic markers. Extensive methodological heterogeneity across the included studies was observed, which hampers comparability and reproducibility of results, providing a possible explanation why these biomarkers do not reach the clinic.

CONCLUSION

Potential prognostic methylation markers for RCC have been identified, but they require further validation in prospective studies to determine their true clinical value.

Biomarkers of Renal Tumors: the Current State and Clinical Perspectives

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ranks the first death rate among the urogenital tumors, whereas its incidence follows the incidences of prostate and bladder cancer. The diagnosis of RCC at early stages allows immediately undertaking appropriate treatment, which significantly increases patients' survival rate. Early and accurate diagnosis avoids inadequate treatment, provides the disease progression forecast, and permits to apply more efficient therapy. Unfortunately, the small renal tumors are usually asymptomatic resulting in the late diagnosis and, therefore, low efficacy of treatment. Thus, sensible and preventive biomarkers are essential for early RCC detection and monitoring of its progression. So far, many attempts were performed aimed at recognizing novel informative kidney tumor biomarkers applicable for early detection of the disease and possessing prognostic and predictive capabilities. This review summarizes recent advances in renal tumor biomarkers recognition, their diagnostic and prognostic values, and clinical feasibility.