Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41243505›Full record

ArticlePathologica2025

TFE3-rearranged and TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma: from classification to real-life. Insights from a national Italian survey.

Stefano Marletta, Anna Caliò, Giuseppe Nicolò Fanelli, Paola Bianco, Angelo Giovanni Bonadio, Claudia Covelli, Simona Francesconi, Mariia Ivanova, Daniele Liscia, Alessia Moro and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pathologica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Stefano Marletta *Division of Pathology, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Catania, Italy.
Anna Caliò *Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Italy.
Giuseppe Nicolò FanelliDivision of Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
Paola BiancoSection of Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Angelo Giovanni BonadioPathology Unit, S. Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, Alessandria, Italy.
Claudia CovelliPathology Unit, Ospedale Desenzano del Garda, Italy.
Simona FrancesconiPathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Maria, Terni, Italy.
Mariia IvanovaDivision of Pathology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Daniele LisciaAnatomic Pathology Department, Degli Infermi Hospital, Biella, Italy.
Alessia MoroPathology Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan.
Daniela OnnisPathology Department, Giuseppe Brotzu Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
Maria Rosaria RaspolliniDepartment of Histopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Costantino RicciPathology Unit, DIAP-Dipartimento Interaziendale di Anatomia Patologica di Bologna, Maggiore Hospital-AUSL, Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Steno SentinelliDepartment of Pathology, IRCCS "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Marina ValeriPathology Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Seriate, Bergamo, Italy.
Guido MartignoniDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Ongoing discoveries in cancer research keep expanding the landscape of renal cell carcinoma classification, particularly for "molecularly-defined" tumors like TFE3-rearranged and TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma. However, scientific updates often do not align with pathologists' daily practice and resources. Herein, we present the results from a national Italian survey assessing physicians' personal experience on TFE3-rearranged and TFEB-altered renal cell carcinomas. Methods: An online questionnaire encompassing 26 questions was delivered to the Italian Study Group of Uropathology (GIUP) members, addressing critical concerns on their routine approach to these tumors. The answers were collected and further analyzed. Results: Thirteen pathologists with varying uropathological experience responded to the survey. Data confirmed the rarity of these neoplasms, with 69% of participants experiencing fewer than five or none at all. Despite this, aggressive behavior was documented by half of the respondents. Unusual morphology (62%) and young age (38%) were identified as the most relevant clues for suspecting TFE3-rearranged and TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma. However, variability was observed in the specific histological features and the age threshold. The majority of the participants (54%) agreed on the need for ancillary molecular techniques for diagnostic purposes. Regarding immunohistochemistry, all professionals relied on multiple assays, attributing a primary role to a panel including cathepsin K, melanocytic markers (HMB45 and melan-A), PAX8, cytokeratin 7, and CA9. Additionally, most (58%) reported routine TFE3 immunohistochemical staining, although generally considering it reliable as long as diffuse and intense (58%) or requiring FISH confirmation in every positive case (25%). As for this latter, variability was recorded regarding split-signals positivity cut-off. Conclusions: The continuous evolution of renal cell carcinoma classification significantly impacts the pathologists' routine approach. Our survey underscores the importance of ongoing knowledge sharing and heightened awareness for accurately identifying TFE3-rearranged and TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma and providing further insights on still unsolved issues.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Renal CellKidney NeoplasmsTranslocation, GeneticBasic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription FactorsHumansItalyPathologistsSurveys and QuestionnairesBasic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription FactorsTFE3 protein, humanTFEB protein, humanimmunohistochemistrymolecular testsmorphologyonline surveyTFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinomaTFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID41243505
PMCPMC12620956

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.