A new draft clinical guideline from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) aims to transform kidney cancer diagnosis and management. The primary recommendation is to increase the use of renal mass biopsies for patients with suspected, localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The goal is to reduce unnecessary surgeries in patients whose lesions are ultimately benign, helping standardize care and improve quality of life.
The guideline recommends doubling the number of kidney biopsies performed annually in the UK, with the expectation of earlier, more accurate diagnoses and better treatment planning. It also emphasizes more personalized care, including access to clinical nurse specialists who can create individualized care plans and provide support throughout the treatment journey.
NICE officials note that increased biopsy use can prevent avoidable operations, improve long-term patient outcomes, and save National Health Service (NHS) resources by reducing low-value surgery. Public consultation on the draft guideline is currently open.
The US FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to the BioTraceIO360 software platform for use in percutaneous ablation of soft tissue in the kidney, according to Techsomed. BioTraceIO360 is an image-guided therapy platform intended to standardize minimally invasive ablation workflows from treatment planning through verification. The clearance expands prior BioTraceIO indications for liver tumor ablation to kidney applications.
The decision was supported by a multicenter pivotal trial (NCT04970212) showing that BioTraceIO360 was superior to immediate post-procedure contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) in estimating the ablation zone as ultimately visualized on 24-hour CECT, when maximal ablation zone expansion is observed. Techsomed reported that the software could accurately predict 24-hour ablation size and shape using ultrasound data that correlated with CT findings.
Reference: Techsomed. “Techsomed receives FDA 510(k) clearance expanding BioTraceIO360 platform to kidney ablation…” News release. September 22, 2025. Available at: PR Newswire link.
Ferroptosis is a regulated form of cell death driven by lipid membrane breakdown, with ACSL4 serving as a key pro-ferroptotic regulator. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells can resist ferroptosis, and new work suggests PRMT5 is a central mediator of that resistance.
In a recent study led by Dr. Meng Zhang, PRMT5 was shown to methylate ACSL4, destabilizing it and promoting degradation. This effectively suppresses ferroptosis, enabling RCC cell survival and treatment resistance. The findings support PRMT5 inhibition as a strategy to restore ferroptosis, potentially sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy.
The study highlights a PRMT5 inhibitor, GSK3326595, as a candidate for combination with existing immunotherapies to improve response durability in RCC. Further clinical validation is needed, but the mechanism offers a promising path to overcome resistance.
KCJ Molecular Insights: https://doi.org/10.52733/KCJ23n3-mi
UCLA researchers have developed an “off-the-shelf” cellular immunotherapy, AlloCAR70-NKT, designed to treat kidney cancer without patient-specific manufacturing. The approach uses engineered natural killer T (NKT) cells derived from stem cells, potentially improving access and scalability.
AlloCAR70-NKT is designed for a multi-pronged antitumor effect: (1) direct tumor cell killing via a CAR receptor targeting kidney cancer cells; (2) reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment to reduce immune shielding; and (3) mitigation of host rejection mechanisms to prolong cell persistence.
This platform may be particularly relevant for metastatic RCC, where resistance to current therapies remains common and survival outcomes are poor. Translational and clinical studies are expected to define durability, safety, and optimal combination strategies.
An international study led by Lund University (Sweden) suggests that a urine-based “GAGome test” may help detect RCC recurrence after curative surgery, potentially reducing reliance on frequent imaging follow-up. The test measures glycosaminoglycan (GAG) profiles in urine as recurrence biomarkers.
Across 134 patients from 10 countries, the test identified 90% of relapses. A negative GAGome result showed a 97% probability of no recurrence, indicating high negative predictive value.
Currently, post-nephrectomy surveillance often includes CT or X-ray imaging 1–2 times per year, contributing to radiation exposure and “scanxiety.” According to lead investigator Dr. Saeed Dabestani, a negative GAGome test could allow clinicians to safely reduce imaging frequency, lowering patient burden and healthcare costs. Additional validation cohorts are underway.
Download PDF
