Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas with Aggressive Behavior Display Low Intratumor Heterogeneity at the Histological Level

Abstract

Purpose of Review Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is an inherent characteristic of most tumors and its detection remains a key task for pathologists. However, the clinical significance of the degree of development of this feature is still poorly understood.

Recent Findings A series of 28 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CCRCC) have been exhaustively analyzed with two different sampling protocols [multisite tumor sampling (MSTS) and total sampling] to evaluate to what point the level (low vs. high) of histological ITH detected in routine practice influences tumor behavior and patients’ survival. All CCRCC (n = 14) pursuing an aggressive clinical course presented low levels of ITH. A significant worse survival was detected in CCRCC with low ITH (p < 0.001).

Summary The simple quantification of the level of ITH using extensive sampling protocol may be of help in predicting tumor evolution, since all CCRCC with aggressive behavior demonstrated low levels of histological ITH.