Background
Kidney, prostate, bladder, testis and penile cancer account for 22% of cancers diagnosed
in the United States and are responsible for 10% of cancer deaths each year in the U.S.
Understanding the genes and gene pathways that cause genitourinary malignancies will
provide the foundation for the development of targeted therapeutic agents for patients
affected with these cancers. Since 1982 investigators in the Urologic Oncology Branch
have been studying the genetic basis of urologic cancers. The identification of the genes
for cancer of the kidney has led to the approval by the FDA of a number of new agents for
patients with advanced disease. It is our goal to study the cancer gene pathways of
genitourinary malignancies in order to further understand the cancer gene pathways that
cause these diseases.
Objectives
Collection of benign and malignant tissue from patients with known or suspected cancer
Collection of benign and malignant tissue from patients with rare inherited conditions
associated with an increased risk for kidney cancer
Determine the molecular genetic differences between normal and tumorigenic tissues
Investigate the categories of genes/ biochemical pathways such as those that influence
the cell cycle, angiogenesis, metabolic changes, and metastatic potential
Examine protein expression and bioimmunoassays investigating potential genetic markers
Investigate cellular/biochemical response to existing and novel therapeutic agents.
Investigate quality of life in men who have prostate cancer
Investigate molecular genetic basis of urologic malignancies
Examine cell free DNA and circulating tumor DNA for cancer gene mutations
Eligibility
Patients with biopsy-proven malignant disease
Patients suspected of having malignant disease
Patients with known or suspected inherited urologic malignant disorder
Family members (related by blood) of patients who have or are suspected of having an
inherited genitourinary disorder or malignancy
Family members of patients with a DNA variant
Design
Patients will be screened for eligibility in the Urologic Oncology Branch Clinic
Blood and urine samples may be obtained
Normal and malignant tissue may be collected from patients undergoing clinically
indicated surgical procedures
Basic scientific research will be performed on collected specimens
Patients will have the option to be contacted if a result is detected that would affect
their health and they will be given the opportunity to be evaluated and re-tested on an
IRB approved protocol if available
Germline and somatic whole genome exome sequencing may be performed
