Renin Production by Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumors and Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and the Role of Angiotensin Signaling Inhibitors

Objective: To profile juxtaglomerular cell tumors (JXG) and histologic mimics by analyzing renin expression; to identify non-JXG renin-producing tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data sets; and to define the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and patient outcomes with angiotensin signaling inhibitor (ASI) use in tumors of interest. Patients and Methods: Thirteen JXGs and 10 glomus tumors (GTs), a histologic mimic, were evaluated for clinicopathologic features; TCGA data were analyzed to identify non-JXG renin-over-expressing tumors. An institutional registry was queried to determine the incidence of HTN, the use of ASIs in hypertensive patients, and the impact of ASIs on outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS) in a tumor type with high renin expression (clear cell renal cell carcinoma [CC-RCC] diagnosed between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012). Results: We found an association between renin production and HTN in JXG compared with GT. Analysis of TCGA data found that a subset of CC-RCCs overexpress renin relative to 29 other tumor types. Furthermore, analysis of our institutional registry revealed a high prevalence (64%) of HTN among 1203 patients treated with radical or partial nephrectomy for nonmetastatic CC-RCC. On multivariable Cox regression, patients with HTN treated with ASIs (34%) had improved PFS (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.00; P=.05) compared with patients with HTN not treated with ASIs (30%). Conclusion: The identification of renin expression in a subset of CC-RCC may provide a biologic rationale for the high prevalence of HTN and improved PFS with ASI use in hypertensive patients with nonmetastatic CC-RCC. (C) 2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

This study profiles juxtaglomerular cell tumors (JXG) and histologic mimics by analyzing renin expression and identifies non-JXG renin-producing tumors. Furthermore, the study reveals improved patient outcomes with angiotensin signaling inhibitor (ASI) use in hypertensive patients with high renin expression tumors.