Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is characterized by the development of numerous renal cysts. Incidence of ACKD is higher amongst patients on haemodialysis and the longer a patient receives this treatment, the more likely ACKD is to occur. Assistant Professor Kunio Kawanishi, Faculty
of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan, is focusing on acquired cystic kidney disease associated renal cell carcinoma (ACD-RCC), which is an unique and major type of RCC in haemodialysis patients. He and his team are investigating comprehensive glycan profiles of ACD-RCC to detect possible
biomakers. If a useful biomarker can be discovered, disease diagnosis could be improved and therapeutic targets for treatment could be provided. In his current project, Kawanishi is exploring the significance of sialic acid modification and accumulation of ketodeoxynonulosonic acid (Kdn) in
end-stage renal disease (ESRD). He is using different techniques to decipher how Kdn and other sialic acids react and circulate within the human body. Kawanishi linked into the TIA collaborative network, which enabled him to access invaluable samples for next generation sequencing, enabling
him to determine mRNA expression and perform glycan analysis with lectin microarray. Currently, the researchers are using mass spectrometry to detect ACD-RCC specific glycostructure for establishing ELISA. Next, the team will identify the lectin and antibody specific to the glycan and its
carrier protein.
Renal Cell Carcinoma in Transplant Recipients with Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease
