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
- Individuals with biopsy-proven malignant disease
- Individuals suspected of having malignant disease
- Individuals with known or suspected inherited urologic malignant disorder
- A relative (related by blood) of an individual with a confirmed or suspected
diagnosis of an inherited genitourinary disorder or malignancy
- Family members of patients with a DNA variant
Design
- Participants 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 participants undergoing clinically
indicated surgical procedures
- Basic scientific research will be performed on collected specimens
- Participants 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
