A recent study from UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has unveiled a non-invasive imaging technique that accurately detects clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the most prevalent form of kidney cancer.

This innovative imaging method demonstrated impressive accuracy, achieving 85.5% sensitivity and 87.0% specificity, effectively identifying cancer even in small renal masses under 2 cm.

The technique utilizes a monoclonal antibody drug, 89Zr-TLX250, which specifically targets the CA9 protein prevalent in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.

During the procedure, patients receive an injection of 89Zr-TLX250, which attaches to the CA9 protein if present in kidney masses, followed by a PET-CT scan to visualize the presence of cancer.

The method has proven to be safe, with no significant side effects reported from the use of 89Zr-TLX250.

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma accounts for 75% of kidney cancer cases and is responsible for 90% of kidney cancer deaths in the U.S., where over 81,000 people are diagnosed annually.

Traditional imaging methods, such as CT and MRI, often struggle to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors, leading to potential misdiagnoses.

Dr. Brian Shuch, the lead author and director of the Kidney Cancer Program at UCLA, emphasized that early diagnosis significantly increases survival rates, with over 90% of patients surviving at least five years if caught early.

The findings, published in The Lancet Oncology, could reduce unnecessary surgeries and ensure timely treatment for patients, potentially transforming future diagnostic practices.

Dr. Shuch noted that if widely adopted, 89Zr-TLX250 PET-CT imaging could revolutionize kidney cancer diagnostics, similar to its impact on prostate cancer management.

The research team is now launching a clinical trial called CANINE to investigate whether this imaging technique can also detect metastasis in high-risk patients post-surgery.

The study highlights UCLA's long-term research efforts focusing on the CA9 protein, contributing to advancements in kidney cancer diagnostics and treatments.