Innovative imaging of renal cell carcinoma: Radiogenomics, Radiomics and creation of a new prognostic nomogram

• Applicant: Julian Marcon
• Subject Area: Reproductive Medicine, Urology
• Term: from 2017 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 401538385

Renal cell carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease, made up of various tumor subtypes with particular appearances at pathologic analysis as well as clinical and prognostic differences. These subtypes can essentially be subcategorized into clear cell and non-clear cell variants, the latter consisting of a variety of tumor entities. Prognosis in metastatic disease is worse for non-clear cell tumors. The analysis of gene mutations (‘Genomics’) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma has contributed to a better understanding of tumor characteristics and has linked specific mutation patterns to tumor behavior. Certain gene mutations are hereby associated with particular imaging features at computed tomography (‘Radiogenomics’). A primary aim of this research fellowship is to determine similar associations for non-clear cell tumor variants.Texture analysis methods extract mathematical data from image series (‘Radiomics’). The application of this method in renal cell carcinoma aims to gain more “invisible” information from heterogeneous tumor masses. Data from Radiogenomics and Radiomics will, alongside “classic” radiologic features - like tumor necrosis, calcification or renal vein invasion - enter the creation of a nomogram for non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The essential aim of this nomogram will be the distinction between more and less aggressive tumor variants, with the intention to ultimately offer individual prognostic information for renal cell carcinoma patients.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Dr. A. Ari Hakimi