Genomic differences between black and white patients implicate a distinct immune response to papillary renal cell carcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Paulucci, D. J.; Sfakianos, J. P.; Skanderup, A. J.; Kan, K.; Tsao, C. K.; Galsky, M. D.; Ari Hakimi, A.; Badani, K. K.
Article Title: Genomic differences between black and white patients implicate a distinct immune response to papillary renal cell carcinoma
Abstract: Significant disparities in survival, incidence and possibly response to current therapies exist between black and white patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recent genomic evidence to account for these disparities has been reported for clear cell RCC. However, racial disparities at the genomic level for papillary RCC (pRCC) which is a genetically distinct and less responsive histologic subtype of RCC have not been reported. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, the present study assessed gene-level expression, somatic mutation and pathway differences between 58 black and 58 white patients with pRCC propensity matched on age, gender and pathologic T stage. Distinct tumor biology with differential expression patterns were observed in black vs. white patients with pRCC. Specifically, significance analysis of microarrays was applied to TCGA gene expression data and identified 163 genes and 120 genes overexpressed in black and white patients, respectively (FDR q < 0.05). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified 62 gene sets enriched (p < 0.10) in blacks. Enrichment of immune immune system pathways were noted in black patients. These included the B cell receptor signaling pathway, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and genes involved in defensins. The VEGF pathway was also more significant in black patients. CRYBB2, a gene associated with the WNT pathway was overexpressed in Black patients. While our data requires validation, these findings suggest that race may have implications for distinct immune responses to cancer and that the use of immunotherapies, and VEGFR inhibitors to target these pathways may improve survival in black patients with advanced pRCC.
Keywords: immune response; targeted therapy; racial disparities; papillary renal cell carcinoma; immune system signaling
Journal Title: Oncotarget
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1949-2553
Publisher: Impact Journals  
Date Published: 2017-01-01
Start Page: 5196
End Page: 5205
Language: English
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14122
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 28029648
PMCID: PMC5354901
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 March 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Abraham Ari Hakimi
    323 Hakimi