Perroud B, Ishimaru T, Borowsky AD et al.
University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Mol Cell Proteomics 2009;8:971–85.
Editor’s note: Assessment of tumor grade is currently the most important means for making a prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although several different grading systems have been developed over the years, most pathologists utilize the Fuhrman grading system. However, all currently used systems suffer from significant disparity among observers. Thus, there is a pressing need for more objective criteria for assessment of tumor grade. Once such criteria are put forth, the potential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of RCC, and the signaling cascades involved in the disease that could be disrupted in a therapeutic situation, will improve. To address this issue, the authors of this article developed a “shot-gun” proteomics methodology for protein characterization in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens from clear-cell RCCs.