References

1. Zbar B, Tory K, Merino M, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 151 (3): 561-6, 1994. [PubMed: 8308957]
2. Schmidt L, Duh FM, Chen F, et al.: Germline and somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Nat Genet 16 (1): 68-73, 1997. [PubMed: 9140397]
3. Zbar B, Glenn G, Lubensky I, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma: clinical studies in 10 families. J Urol 153 (3 Pt 2): 907-12, 1995. [PubMed: 7853572]

MET Gene

The MET gene is located on chromosome 7q31.2 and encodes a protein with 1,390 amino-acids.[1] The functional MET receptor is a heterodimer made of an alpha chain (50 kDa) and a beta chain (145 kDa). The primary single-chain precursor protein is posttranslationally cleaved to produce the alpha and beta subunits,[2] which are disulfide-linked to form the mature receptor. Two transcript variants, which encode different isoforms, have been found for this gene.

The beta subunit of MET possesses tyrosine kinase activity and was identified as the cell-surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).[3] MET transduces signals from the extracellular matrix into the cytoplasm by binding to the HGF ligand; it also regulates cell proliferation, scattering, morphogenesis, and survival.[4] Ligand binding at the cell surface induces autophosphorylation of MET on its intracellular domain, which provides docking sites for downstream signaling molecules. After activation by its ligand, MET interacts with the PI3K subunit PI3KR1, PLCG1, SRC, GRB2, or STAT3, or the adapter GAB1. Recruitment of these downstream effectors by MET leads to the activation of several signaling cascades, including RAS-ERK, PI3K/AKT, and PLC-gamma/PKC.[4] The RAS-ERK activation is associated with morphogenetic effects, while PI3K/AKT coordinates cell survival activities.[4]

Prevalence and Founder Effects

A novel pathogenic variant was identified in exon 16 of the MET gene in two large hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) families in North America. Affected members of the two families shared the same haplotype located within and immediately distal to the MET gene, suggesting a common ancestor (founder effect).[5] However, HPRC families with identical germline MET pathogenic variants who do not share a common ancestral haplotype have also been reported.[6]

Penetrance of MET Pathogenic Variants

HPRC is highly penetrant (approaching 100%).[5-7]

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

All cases of HPRC have presented with papillary renal cell carcinoma, and no other histological subtypes have been detected.[5,6,8-10] The papillary RCC seen in HPRC (previously known as type 1 papillary RCC) has a distinct morphology, including the presence of small cells with basophilic cytoplasms arranged in a single layer on thin papillae. Extrarenal manifestations associated with this condition have not been reported.

References

1. Park M, Dean M, Kaul K, et al.: Sequence of MET protooncogene cDNA has features characteristic of the tyrosine kinase family of growth-factor receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 84 (18): 6379-83, 1987. [PMC free article: PMC299079] [PubMed: 2819873]
2. Komada M, Hatsuzawa K, Shibamoto S, et al.: Proteolytic processing of the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor by furin. FEBS Lett 328 (1-2): 25-9, 1993. [PubMed: 8344430]
3. Bottaro DP, Rubin JS, Faletto DL, et al.: Identification of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor as the c-met proto-oncogene product. Science 251 (4995): 802-4, 1991. [PubMed: 1846706]
4. Gherardi E, Birchmeier W, Birchmeier C, et al.: Targeting MET in cancer: rationale and progress. Nat Rev Cancer 12 (2): 89-103, 2012. [PubMed: 22270953]
5. Schmidt L, Junker K, Weirich G, et al.: Two North American families with hereditary papillary renal carcinoma and identical novel mutations in the MET proto-oncogene. Cancer Res 58 (8): 1719-22, 1998. [PubMed: 9563489]
6. Schmidt LS, Nickerson ML, Angeloni D, et al.: Early onset hereditary papillary renal carcinoma: germline missense mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the met proto-oncogene. J Urol 172 (4 Pt 1): 1256-61, 2004. [PubMed: 15371818]
7. Shuch B, Vourganti S, Ricketts CJ, et al.: Defining early-onset kidney cancer: implications for germline and somatic mutation testing and clinical management. J Clin Oncol 32 (5): 431-7, 2014. [PMC free article: PMC3912328] [PubMed: 24378414]
8. Zbar B, Glenn G, Lubensky I, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma: clinical studies in 10 families. J Urol 153 (3 Pt 2): 907-12, 1995. [PubMed: 7853572]
9. Zbar B, Tory K, Merino M, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 151 (3): 561-6, 1994. [PubMed: 8308957]
10. Schmidt L, Duh FM, Chen F, et al.: Germline and somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Nat Genet 16 (1): 68-73, 1997. [PubMed: 9140397]

References

1. Schmidt L, Junker K, Nakaigawa N, et al.: Novel mutations of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Oncogene 18 (14): 2343-50, 1999. [PubMed: 10327054]
2. Schmidt L, Duh FM, Chen F, et al.: Germline and somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Nat Genet 16 (1): 68-73, 1997. [PubMed: 9140397]
3. Miller M, Ginalski K, Lesyng B, et al.: Structural basis of oncogenic activation caused by point mutations in the kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene: modeling studies. Proteins 44 (1): 32-43, 2001. [PubMed: 11354004]
4. Park M, Dean M, Kaul K, et al.: Sequence of MET protooncogene cDNA has features characteristic of the tyrosine kinase family of growth-factor receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 84 (18): 6379-83, 1987. [PMC free article: PMC299079] [PubMed: 2819873]
5. Zhuang Z, Park WS, Pack S, et al.: Trisomy 7-harbouring non-random duplication of the mutant MET allele in hereditary papillary renal carcinomas. Nat Genet 20 (1): 66-9, 1998. [PubMed: 9731534]
6. Linehan WM, Spellman PT, Ricketts CJ, et al.: Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Papillary Renal-Cell Carcinoma. N Engl J Med 374 (2): 135-45, 2016. [PMC free article: PMC4775252] [PubMed: 26536169]
7. Pal SK, Ali SM, Yakirevich E, et al.: Characterization of Clinical Cases of Advanced Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma via Comprehensive Genomic Profiling. Eur Urol 73 (1): 71-78, 2018. [PubMed: 28592388]

Kidney Cancer

The only recognized manifestation of hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) is kidney cancer. The mean and median age at onset are 42 and 41 years, respectively.[1] The age at onset may vary widely between families (range, 19–66 y), perhaps influenced by specific genotypes.[2] Unlike sporadic tumors, which occur more frequently in males, both sexes appear to be similarly affected by HPRC-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Renal tumors in HPRC are most commonly bilateral and multifocal.[3,4] In contrast with many other RCC syndromes, renal cysts are less common in HPRC.[3,4] However, the presentation of HPRC is similar to other forms of kidney cancer in that small tumors may present incidentally, whereas large lesions can cause the classic triad of flank pain, hematuria, and an abdominal mass. When HPRC renal tumors become large, they can metastasize, most commonly to the lungs.[5]

References

1. Shuch B, Vourganti S, Ricketts CJ, et al.: Defining early-onset kidney cancer: implications for germline and somatic mutation testing and clinical management. J Clin Oncol 32 (5): 431-7, 2014. [PMC free article: PMC3912328] [PubMed: 24378414]
2. Schmidt LS, Nickerson ML, Angeloni D, et al.: Early onset hereditary papillary renal carcinoma: germline missense mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the met proto-oncogene. J Urol 172 (4 Pt 1): 1256-61, 2004. [PubMed: 15371818]
3. Zbar B, Glenn G, Lubensky I, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma: clinical studies in 10 families. J Urol 153 (3 Pt 2): 907-12, 1995. [PubMed: 7853572]
4. Zbar B, Tory K, Merino M, et al.: Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 151 (3): 561-6, 1994. [PubMed: 8308957]
5. Lubensky IA, Schmidt L, Zhuang Z, et al.: Hereditary and sporadic papillary renal carcinomas with c-met mutations share a distinct morphological phenotype. Am J Pathol 155 (2): 517-26, 1999. [PMC free article: PMC1866853] [PubMed: 10433944]

References

1. Delahunt B, Eble JN: Papillary renal cell carcinoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 105 tumors. Mod Pathol 10 (6): 537-44, 1997. [PubMed: 9195569]
2. Störkel S, Eble JN, Adlakha K, et al.: Classification of renal cell carcinoma: Workgroup No. 1. Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Cancer 80 (5): 987-9, 1997. [PubMed: 9307203]
3. Ornstein DK, Lubensky IA, Venzon D, et al.: Prevalence of microscopic tumors in normal appearing renal parenchyma of patients with hereditary papillary renal cancer. J Urol 163 (2): 431-3, 2000. [PubMed: 10647647]
4. Schmidt L, Junker K, Weirich G, et al.: Two North American families with hereditary papillary renal carcinoma and identical novel mutations in the MET proto-oncogene. Cancer Res 58 (8): 1719-22, 1998. [PubMed: 9563489]
5. Schmidt LS, Nickerson ML, Angeloni D, et al.: Early onset hereditary papillary renal carcinoma: germline missense mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the met proto-oncogene. J Urol 172 (4 Pt 1): 1256-61, 2004. [PubMed: 15371818]
6. Lubensky IA, Schmidt L, Zhuang Z, et al.: Hereditary and sporadic papillary renal carcinomas with c-met mutations share a distinct morphological phenotype. Am J Pathol 155 (2): 517-26, 1999. [PMC free article: PMC1866853] [PubMed: 10433944]
7. Choyke PL, Glenn GM, Walther MM, et al.: Hereditary renal cancers. Radiology 226 (1): 33-46, 2003. [PubMed: 12511666]

Surveillance

It is important that patients with known hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) undergo regular surveillance. Papillary renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) possess specific imaging characteristics that differ from clear cell RCCs. Papillary renal tumors are generally hypovascular and enhance only 10 to 30 Hounsfield units after intravenous administration of contrast material. Papillary renal tumors can be mistaken for renal cysts, unless evaluated by careful attenuation measurements before and after contrast enhancement. Ultrasonography can be particularly misleading if no other imaging tests are used because the small renal tumors in HPRC are often isoechoic and may be missed on repeat examinations.[1]

If kidney function is normal and the patient is not allergic to contrast, cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best initial imaging technique for identifying these hypovascular renal tumors. Renal ultrasonography is often inadequate for detecting papillary tumors, even when the tumor is clearly present on CT or MRI.[2] Occasionally, ultrasonography may complement cross-sectional imaging by aiding in the identification of cystic structures.[3]

At-risk individuals are generally recommended to undergo periodic kidney imaging throughout their lifetimes, even when renal tumors are not present. Therefore, MRI is typically recommended to minimize the lifetime dose of radiation. One approach that has been used is to perform initial cross-sectional imaging at baseline. If there are no renal tumors present, imaging can be performed periodically. If a renal tumor smaller than 3 cm is found, imaging is repeated within the first year to assess the growth rate of the tumor.[4] Imaging frequency can be adapted to prevent the largest tumor from exceeding 3 cm depending on the growth characteristics of the tumor and the current tumor size.

Generally, patients with HPRC-associated renal tumors are candidates for radiological surveillance until one or more of the tumors reach 3 cm. At that point, surgical intervention is recommended. For more information, see the Treatment section.

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing for HPRC is available at Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratories. A health professional (usually a physician, geneticist, or genetic counselor) intermediary between the patient and the laboratory is chosen. Genetic counseling is performed, and informed consent obtained. The genetic counselor will contact the laboratory and coordinate genetic testing.

Genetic testing for HPRC may be recommended if an individual has one or more of the following:

• A family history of HPRC.
• A biologically related family member who tested positive for a pathogenic variant in the tyrosine kinase domain of MET.
• A personal history of greater than one papillary RCC (especially with the previously designated type 1 papillary RCC morphology), a papillary RCC with incipient lesions of the surrounding parenchyma, or a papillary RCC diagnosed before age 45 years.

One report suggested that it may be beneficial to expand testing for HPRC beyond familial cases.[5] In a series of 158 patients from France, 5% of nonfamilial papillary RCC cases had a germline MET pathogenic variant.

Treatment

Once HPRC renal tumors reach 3 cm in size, a nephron-sparing partial nephrectomy is usually recommended to minimize the risk of metastasis. There are no curative options available for patients with unresectable extrarenal spread of disease. However, there has been significant interest in developing MET-directed systemic therapy for patients with HPRC. Foretinib, a dual MET/VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor with additional activity against a variety of other tyrosine kinases, was evaluated in a multicenter phase II trial in patients with metastatic papillary RCC or bilateral multifocal papillary RCC. The overall response rate in patients with papillary RCC was 13.5%.[9] However, patients with germline MET pathogenic variants were particularly sensitive to this agent, with 5 of 10 patients demonstrating a partial response, as assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. In patients without germline MET pathogenic variants, only 5 of 57 demonstrated a partial response to foretinib. Cabozantinib was approved for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer in 2016.[10] In a randomized phase II trial from the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), patients with metastatic papillary RCC had improved outcomes with cabozantinib when compared with sunitinib in the S1500 trial. Ongoing research will evaluate the role of MET activation in RCC treatment response.[11]

References

1. Choyke PL, Glenn GM, Walther MM, et al.: Hereditary renal cancers. Radiology 226 (1): 33-46, 2003. [PubMed: 12511666]
2. Vikram R, Ng CS, Tamboli P, et al.: Papillary renal cell carcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation and spectrum of disease. Radiographics 29 (3): 741-54; discussion 755-7, 2009 May-Jun. [PubMed: 19448113]
3. Choyke PL, Walther MM, Glenn GM, et al.: Imaging features of hereditary papillary renal cancers. J Comput Assist Tomogr 21 (5): 737-41, 1997 Sep-Oct. [PubMed: 9294565]
4. Walther MM, Choyke PL, Glenn G, et al.: Renal cancer in families with hereditary renal cancer: prospective analysis of a tumor size threshold for renal parenchymal sparing surgery. J Urol 161 (5): 1475-9, 1999. [PubMed: 10210376]
5. Sebai M, Tulasne D, Caputo SM, et al.: Novel germline MET pathogenic variants in French patients with papillary renal cell carcinomas type I. Hum Mutat 43 (3): 316-327, 2022. [PubMed: 34882875]
6. Park M, Dean M, Kaul K, et al.: Sequence of MET protooncogene cDNA has features characteristic of the tyrosine kinase family of growth-factor receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 84 (18): 6379-83, 1987. [PMC free article: PMC299079] [PubMed: 2819873]
7. Schmidt L, Duh FM, Chen F, et al.: Germline and somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Nat Genet 16 (1): 68-73, 1997. [PubMed: 9140397]
8. Duh FM, Scherer SW, Tsui LC, et al.: Gene structure of the human MET proto-oncogene. Oncogene 15 (13): 1583-6, 1997. [PubMed: 9380410]
9. Choueiri TK, Vaishampayan U, Rosenberg JE, et al.: Phase II and biomarker study of the dual MET/VEGFR2 inhibitor foretinib in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 31 (2): 181-6, 2013. [PMC free article: PMC3532390] [PubMed: 23213094]
10. Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, et al.: Cabozantinib versus Everolimus in Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma. N Engl J Med 373 (19): 1814-23, 2015. [PMC free article: PMC5024539] [PubMed: 26406150]
11. Pal SK, Tangen C, Thompson IM, et al.: A comparison of sunitinib with cabozantinib, crizotinib, and savolitinib for treatment of advanced papillary renal cell carcinoma: a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet 397 (10275): 695-703, 2021. [PMC free article: PMC8687736] [PubMed: 33592176]

References

1. Choyke PL, Glenn GM, Walther MM, et al.: Hereditary renal cancers. Radiology 226 (1): 33-46, 2003. [PubMed: 12511666]
2. Kiuru M, Kujala M, Aittomäki K: Inherited forms of renal cell carcinoma. Scand J Surg 93 (2): 103-11, 2004. [PubMed: 15285561]

References

1. Choueiri TK, Vaishampayan U, Rosenberg JE, et al.: Phase II and biomarker study of the dual MET/VEGFR2 inhibitor foretinib in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 31 (2): 181-6, 2013. [PMC free article: PMC3532390] [PubMed: 23213094]

Purpose of This Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the genetics of hereditary papillary renal carcinoma. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

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This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Cancer Genetics Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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The lead reviewers for Hereditary Papillary Renal Carcinoma are:

• Alexandra Perez Lebensohn, MS, CGC (National Cancer Institute)
• Brian Matthew Shuch, MD (UCLA Health)
• Ramaprasad Srinivasan, MD, PhD (National Cancer Institute)

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