Introduction: Epidemiological data indicate an increased incidence of testicular cancer (TC), making it the most common malignant tumor in men from aged 15–45. Oncological and urological associations recommend that men with specific TC risk factors should regularly perform a testicular self-exam (TSE). The aim of the study was to discover the attitudes among Polish males regarding TSE and factors (environmental, social, educational) that affect intention to perform TSE. Methods: An original survey containing 21 questions was used to conduct a study among the Polish branch of VW (Volkswagen Poland) employees. Results: A total of 522 fully completed questionnaires were collected. The mean age of the surveyed respondents was 32 years. Information about TC and how to perform TSE was obtained by 34.4% (n = 185) of the men. It was shown that the following factors increase men’s intention to perform TSE: TC in their family member (p < 0.05; HR = 5.9; 95% Cl: 1.5–23.0), GP’s(General Practitioner) recommendations (p < 0.001; HR = 6.8; 95% Cl: 3.2–14.3), concern expressed by their partner (p < 0.001; HR = 3.3; 95% Cl: 2.1–5.3), and social campaigns (p < 0.001; HR = 2.6; 95% Cl: 1.5–4.6). Conclusions: Approximately half of young polish males do not perform TSE. Access to information on TC prevention is limited. Further action is needed to improve men’s awareness of TC and TSE.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide with a nearly non-symptomatic course until the advanced stages of the disease. RCC can be distinguished into three subtypes: papillary (pRCC), chromophobe (chRCC) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) representing up to 75% of all RCC cases. Detection and RCC monitoring tools are limited to standard imaging techniques, in combination with non-RCC specific morphological and biochemical read-outs. RCC subtype identification relays mainly on results of pathological examination of tumor slides. Molecular, clinically applicable and ideally non-invasive tools aiding RCC management are still non-existent, although molecular characterization of RCC is relatively advanced. Hence, many research efforts concentrate on the identification of molecular markers that will assist with RCC sub-classification and monitoring. Due to stability and tissue-specificity miRNAs are promising candidates for such biomarkers. Here, we performed a meta-analysis study, utilized seven NGS and seven microarray RCC studies in order to identify subtype-specific expression of miRNAs. We concentrated on potentially oncocytoma-specific miRNAs (miRNA-424-5p, miRNA-146b-5p, miRNA-183-5p, miRNA-218-5p), pRCC-specific (miRNA-127-3p, miRNA-139-5p) and ccRCC-specific miRNAs (miRNA-200c-3p, miRNA-362-5p, miRNA-363-3p and miRNA-204-5p, 21-5p, miRNA-224-5p, miRNA-155-5p, miRNA-210-3p) and validated their expression in an independent sample set. Additionally, we found ccRCC-specific miRNAs to be differentially expressed in ccRCC tumor according to Fuhrman grades and identified alterations in their isoform composition in tumor tissue. Our results revealed that changes in the expression of selected miRNA might be potentially utilized as a tool aiding ccRCC subclass discrimination and we propose a miRNA panel aiding RCC subtype distinction.
BackgroundMutation analysis and cytogenetic testing in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not yet implemented in a routine diagnostics of ccRCC.Material and methodsWe characterized the chromosomal alterations in 83 ccRCC tumors from Polish patients using whole genome SNP genotyping assay. Moreover, the utility of next generation sequencing of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in patients plasma as a potential tool for non-invasive cytogenetic analysis was tested. Additionally, tumor specific somatic mutations in PBRM1, BAP1 and KDM5C were determinedResultsWe confirmed a correlation between deletions at 9p and higher tumor size, and deletion of chromosome 20 and the survival time. In Fuhrman grade 1, only aberrations of 3p and 8p deletion, gain of 5q and 13q and gains of chromosome 7 and 16 were present. The number of aberrations increased with Fuhrman grade, all chromosomes displayed cytogenetic changes in G3 and G4. ccRCC specific chromosome aberrations were observed in cfDNA, although discrepancies were found between cfDNA and tumor samples. In total 12 common and 94 rare variants were detected in PBRM1, BAP1 and KDM5C, with four potentially pathogenic variants. We observed markedly lower mutation load in PBRM1.ConclusionsCytogenetic analysis of cfDNA may allow more accurate diagnosis of tumor aberrations and therefore the correlation between the chromosome aberrations in cfDNA and clinical outcome should be studied in larger cohorts. The functional studies on in BAP1, KDM5C, PBRM1 mutations in large, independent sample set would be necessary for the assessment of their prognostic and diagnostic potential.
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