Kidney cancer

Paraffin-embedded tissue is less accurate than frozen section analysis for determining VHL mutational status in sporadic renal cell carcinoma Verhoest, G. et al. Urol. Oncol. doi:10.1016/j.urolonc.2010.07.005

Determining whether a patient's renal tumor harbors mutated variants of the Von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene could aid prognostication. A new study highlights the importance of the mode by which tissue is processed prior to extraction and sequencing of DNA. A team based in France analyzed clear-cell renal cell carcinoma samples from 76 patients. Although DNA could be extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, much of it was severely degraded. Subsequent amplification and sequencing detected VHL mutations in just 52% of paraffinized samples, whereas analysis of frozen tissue yielded a 98% mutation rate.

Kidney cancer

Bevacizumab increases risk for severe proteinuria in cancer patients Wu, S. et al. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 21, 1381–1389 (2010)

Reports of proteinuria and renal damage caused by the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab prompted a group from the Stony Brook University Medical Center to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 16 randomized controlled trials. More than 12,000 patients with a variety of tumor types were included. Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy increased the risk of severe proteinuria almost fivefold, compared with chemotherapy alone. Risk was proportional to the dose of the antibody. Patients with renal cell carcinoma were worst affected.

Stones

Kidney stones associate with increased risk for myocardial infarction Rule, A. D. et al. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 21, 1641–1644 (2010)

A review of the charts of more than 4,500 stone formers has revealed a 30% increased risk of myocardial infarction, relative to age-matched and gender-matched controls, which is independent of chronic kidney disease.

Stones

DASH-style diet and 24-hour urine composition Taylor, E. N. et al. Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. doi:10.2215/CJN.04420510

A seven-component diet designed to ameliorate hypertension increases urinary citrate levels and urinary volume. Thus, high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, dairy products and whole grains, plus low intake of sweetened drinks and red or processed meat, might reduce the risk of developing kidney stones. Data were collected from 3,426 health professionals.