The Characterization of Cellular and Animal Models of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Kidney cancer represents one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies around the world. Most patients present with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which is often highly resistant to conventional cancer therapeutics when metastatic. Targeted treatments have been developed in the recent decades. However, resistance to therapies, differences in patient responses, and low survival means that more models are required to better understand ccRCC pathogenesis and metastasis. As a result, we used mouse models and single-cell RNA-sequencing to characterize the transcriptional profiles of in vitro, orthotopic, and metastatic models of RCC243, which was recently established from a ccRCC primary tumour. Our findings show that these models form tumours of a clear cell histology in both orthotopic and metastatic settings, and that differential expression exists between the RCC243 models. This highlights the role of the cellular environment, which may influence experimental outcomes and help us better understand disease processes.