Biomarkers in Patients With Kidney Cancer or Cancer of the Urothelium and in Healthy Participants
Condition: Bladder Cancer; Kidney Cancer; Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter; Urethral Cancer
MeSH terms: Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Kidney Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Urethral Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Ureteral Neoplasms
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood and urine from patients with cancer and from healthy
      participants in the laboratory may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers
      related to cancer.

      PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at biomarkers in patients with kidney cancer or
      cancer of the urothelium and in healthy participants.
    

Detailed description: 
      OBJECTIVES:

        -  Determine whether bone morphogenetic protein antagonist regulated in cancer (BARC) is
           present in urine and serum samples from patients with renal cell carcinoma or
           transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium and from healthy participants and whether
           changes in BARC expression levels in these fluids correlate with various disease states.

        -  Evaluate BARC's utility as a biomarker of kidney cancer.

        -  Determine whether differences in BARC levels exist between patients with cancer vs
           non-cancer patients visiting the urology clinic.

        -  Determine whether differences in BARC levels exist among the different types of kidney
           cancers.

        -  Evaluate serum markers of iron metabolism and determine whether changes in BARC
           expression correlates with changes in these systemic iron markers.

        -  Determine whether the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect BARC
           levels as a diagnostic procedure is feasible and desirable.

      OUTLINE: This is a pilot study.

      Blood and urine samples are collected. Samples are evaluated by immunoblotting to detect bone
      morphogenetic protein antagonist regulated in cancer (BARC) and by mass spectrometry analysis
      to detect hepcidin levels. Serum samples are further analyzed for serum iron, ferritin, and
      total-iron body capacity. Histology of biopsy samples will be recorded for patients
      undergoing nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. These patients will undergo a second
      collection of blood and urine samples 3 months post-nephrectomy.
    

Intervention name(s): immunologic technique; laboratory biomarker analysis; mass spectrometry
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Observational model: Other
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Those with a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma or a diagnosis of transitional cell
        carcinoma of the urothelium.
      
Keywords: localized transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter; metastatic transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter; recurrent transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter; regional transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter; transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder; stage I renal cell cancer; stage II renal cell cancer; recurrent renal cell cancer; recurrent bladder cancer; stage I bladder cancer; stage II bladder cancer; stage III bladder cancer; stage IV bladder cancer; anterior urethral cancer; posterior urethral cancer; recurrent urethral cancer; urethral cancer associated with invasive bladder cancer