William M. Linehan

The Morphologic Spectrum of Kidney Tumors in Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma (HLRCC) Syndrome

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is an autosomal dominant familial syndrome characterized by the development of cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas as well as renal tumors. The mutation of this condition has been identified in the fumarate hydratase (FH, 1q42.3-q43) gene. The histology of the renal cancers has not been well described or illustrated because of the newness of the syndrome. We reviewed 40 renal tumors resected from 38 patients belonging to HLRCC families with proven fumarate hydratase germline mutation. Patients ranged in age from 17 to 75 years of age. Tumors were unilateral in all but 2 cases. The size of the tumors varied between 2.3 and 20 cm and there was no laterality preference. Several different architectural patterns were recognized: papillary (25 cases), tubulo-papillary (8 cases), tubular (2 cases), and solid (1 case). Mixed patterns were also present in 4 cases. The most important histologic feature of these neoplasms, which we believe to be the hallmark of the HLRCC tumors, is the presence of a characteristic large nucleus with a very prominent inclusion like orangiophilic or eosinophilic nucleolus, surrounded by a clear halo. Immunohistochemical studies did not provide a specific marker for these tumors, however, loss of heterozygosity at 1q32 and 1q42-44 was frequently found. These tumors are associated with poor prognosis and frequent spread to regional lymph nodes. At the moment, morphology is the best tool to recognize these tumors. Proper diagnosis of this syndrome by the pathologist may assist in early detection of these tumors.

Collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney

Collecting duct carcinoma is an unusual variant of renal cell carcinoma, whose appearance and behavior are not well established. We identified six cases of collecting duct carcinoma in our files. The clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical characteristics of these tumors are reported. The most common symptom was gross hematuria (four cases). Two patients had cervical adenopathy due to metastatic tumor. Four rapidly developed systemic metastases and died within 4 to 24 months. The primary renal tumors were located predominantly in the renal medulla and pelvis and had a partially cystic white-gray appearance. Histologic examination showed prominent tubulopapillary structures, nests of clear cells, and infiltrating tubules in a dense desmoplastic stroma. Atypical hyperplastic changes were found in some of the adjacent collecting ducts. Mucicarminophilic material was present in glandular elements in all six cases. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positivity with antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen, keratins, peanut agglutinin, vimentin, Leu M1 and lysozyme. The location of this tumor in the medulla, its distinctive histologic appearance, mucin positivity, expression of high molecular weight cytokeratins, and peanut agglutinin suggest that this is a distinct clinicopathologic entity which has an aggressive clinical course.

von Hippel-Lindau gene deletion detected in the stromal cell component of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease

Central nervous system hemangioblastoma is a neoplasm with characteristic and well-described histopathological features, including proliferation of vascular and stromal cells. yet, the histogenesis of the stromal cell component and its neoplastic capacity as compared with the vascular component are still controversial. Stromal cells were selectively procured from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from a von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease patient with a cerebellar hemangioblastoma and studied for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the VHL gene locus and associated microsatellite regions. The stromal cells consistently showed LOH. Analysis of mixed stromal anti vascular areas of this tumor and four other hemangioblastomas of VHL patients showed that loss of heterozygosity was partially obscured. These preliminary results suggest that the stromal component of hemangioblastomas contains genetic alterations consistent with a neoplastic nature. Additional samples of pure stromal cells need to be analyzed to establish the prevalence of VHL gene deletion in stromal cells of capillary hemangioblastoma and, hence, its pathogenetic significance.

LDH-A inhibition, a therapeutic strategy for treatment of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer

The genetic basis for the hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome is germ-line inactivating mutation in the gene for the Krebs/tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase (FH), the enzyme that converts fumarate to malate. These individuals are predisposed to development of leiomyomas of the skin and uterus as well as highly aggressive kidney cancers. Inhibition of FH should result in significant decrease in oxidative phosphorylation necessitating that glycolysis followed by fermentation of pyruvate to lactate will be required to provide adequate ATP as well as to regenerate NAD+. Moreover, FH deficiency is known to up-regulate expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α by enhancing the stability of HIF transcript. This leads to activation of various HIF-regulated genes including vascular endothelial growth factor and glucose transporter GLUT1 and increased expression of several glycolytic enzymes. Because lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A), also a HIF-1α target, promotes fermentative glycolysis (conversion of pyruvate to lactate), a step essential for regenerating NAD+, we asked whether FH-deficient cells would be exquisitely sensitive to LDH-A blockade. Here, we report that hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer tumors indeed overexpress LDH-A, that LDH-A inhibition results in increased apoptosis in a cell with FH deficiency and that this effect is reactive oxygen species mediated, and that LDH-A knockdown in the background of FH knockdown results in significant reduction in tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(3):626–35]

Parenchymal sparing surgery in patients with hereditary renal cell carcinoma

ABSTRACTThe von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is the most well known cause of familial renal cancer. Because affected individuals with renal lesions can have complex, multisystem manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau disease, our renal management strategy has included parenchymal sparing surgery whenever possible. From May 1988 to January 1993, 20 patients with hereditary renal cell carcinoma (19 with von Hippel-Lindau disease and 1 with hereditary papillary renal cancer) underwent renal exploration with the intent of performing parenchymal sparing surgery. A total of 7 nephrectomies and 27 parenchymal sparing procedures was performed. Additional procedures performed included 2 bilateral adrenalectomies for pheochromocytomas, 1 resection of a renal vein thrombus and 1 resection of a pancreatic islet cell tumor. Renal atrophy occurred in 3 of 27 kidneys (11%) treated by parenchymal sparing surgery. In 8 kidneys of 7 patients new solid lesions developed and in 14 kidneys of 12 patients no new solid lesions developed...

Loss of heterozygosity on the short arm of chromosomes 1 and 3 in sporadic pheochromocytoma and extra-adrenal paraganglioma☆

Pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas are tumors of the paraganglia with similar histological characteristics. We examined 12 sporadic pheochromocytomas and 5 extra-adrenal paragangliomas for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosomes 1p and 3p using a microdissection technique. Chromosomes 1p34-36, 3p21 and the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene locus (3p25) were analyzed. LOH of a selected region on chromosome 1p was detected in 5 of 11 (45%) informative pheochromocytoma cases and in 0 of 5 (0%) informative extra-adrenal paraganglioma cases. LOH of the chromosome 3p25 VHL gene locus was detected in 5 of 9 (45%) informative pheochromocytoma cases and in 0 of 3 (0%) informative extra-adrenal paraganglioma cases. LOH of 3p21 was detected in 2 of 4 (50%) informative extra-adrenal paraganglioma cases. The allelic deletions in chromosomes 1p and 3p appear to be separate events. In conclusion, significant deletions were found at 1p34-36 and 3p25 in sporadic pheochromocytomas but not in extra-adrenal paragangliomas. These findings suggest (1) that multiple genetic factors may be involved in pheochromocytoma tumorigenesis, and (2) extra-adrenal paragangliomas may have a different genetic mechanism of tumorigenesis compared with pheochromocytomas.

Morphologic and molecular characteristics of uterine leiomyomas in hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cancer (HLRCC) syndrome

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are predisposed to the development of multiple leiomyomas of the skin and uterus and aggressive forms of kidney cancer. Affected individuals harbor a germline heterozygous loss-of-function mutation of the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. Uterine leiomyomas are present in up to 77% of women with this syndrome. Previous studies have shown that inactivation of the FH gene is unusual for nonsyndromic leiomyomas. Therefore, it might be possible to distinguish 2 genetic groups of smooth muscle tumors: the most common group of sporadic uterine leiomyomas without FH gene inactivation and the more unusual group of HLRCC leiomyomas in patients who harbor a germline mutation of FH, although the exact prevalence of hereditary HLRCC is unknown. We reviewed the clinical, morphologic, and genotypic features of uterine leiomyomas in 19 HLRCC patients with FH germline mutations. Patients with HLRCC syndrome were younger in age compared with those with regular leiomyomata. DNA was extracted by microdissection, and analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 1q43 was performed. Uterine leiomyomas in HLRCC have young age of onset and are multiple, with size ranging from 1 to 8 cm. Histopathologically, HLRCC leiomyomas frequently had increased cellularity, multinucleated cells, and atypia. All cases showed tumor nuclei with large orangeophilic nucleoli surrounded by a perinucleolar halo similar to the changes found in HLRCC. Occasional mitoses were found in 3 cases; however, the tumors did not fulfill the criteria for malignancy. Our study also showed that LOH at 1q43 was frequent in HLRCC leiomyomas (8/10 cases), similarly to what has been previously found in renal cell carcinomas from HLRCC patients. LOH is considered to be the second hit that inactivates the FH gene. We conclude that uterine leiomyomas associated with HLRCC syndrome have characteristic morphologic features. Both, uterine leiomyomas and renal cell carcinoma share some morphologic nuclear changes and genotypic features in HLRCC patients. The specific morphologic features of the uterine leiomyomas that we describe may help in the identification of patients who may be part of the hereditary syndrome.

Renal medullary carcinoma: molecular, immunohistochemistry, and morphologic correlation.

Renal medullary carcinoma, a highly aggressive tumor mainly occurring in patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy, is characterized by advanced stage at the time of presentation and poor response to treatment. Currently, the pathogenesis of this tumor is not well understood. In this study, the clinicopathologic features and molecular changes of 15 renal medullary carcinoma cases were evaluated. These cases demonstrated male predominance (M:F=2:1) with a median age of 26 years. The tumors occurred predominantly in the right kidney with an average size of 5.9 cm. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for CEA (7/8), AE1/3 (8/8), CAM5.2 (7/7), CK7 (5/5), CK20 (4/6), and vimentin (6/6). Absence of SMARCB1 protein expression in tumor cells was demonstrated in all of the 7 cases analyzed. By polymerase chain reaction–based microsatellite analysis, loss of heterozygosity of SMARCB1 was identified in 9 of 10 cases. These data suggest that inactivation of SMARCB1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of renal medullary carcinoma.

Isolated perfusion of the kidney with tumor necrosis factor for localized renal-cell carcinoma.

SummaryPatients with localized renal-cell carcinoma who are candidates for renal parenchymal sparing surgery are being treated with isolated renal perfusion with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Isolated organ perfusion is a surgical technique that allows a cancer-bearing organ or region of the body to be treated with high doses of chemotherapy or biologic, agents that would not be tolerated systemically. In patients with in-transit melanoma or unresectable sarcoma, treatment with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion using TNF, interferon-γ, and melphalan has resulted in response rates exceeding 90%. Because preclinical studies suggest that TNF may induce regression of tumors by causing hemorrhagic necrosis mediated by effects on tumor-related vascular endothelium, a vascular tumor such as renal-cell carcinoma could potentially be very responsive. A phase I study of escalating TNF doses delivered via isolated renal perfusion is currently being conducted.

Outcomes and timing for intervention of partial adrenalectomy in patients with a solitary adrenal remnant and history of bilateral phaeochromocytomas.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4