Doctor Says No Treatment For This Cancer: Here's What They Missed!

The Alpha Human Podcast

In the latest episode of the Alpha Human Podcast, Lawrence shares his experience of delving into the medical literature for six months after being told that other than surgery, there were no effective treatments for his type of cancer. The results of his genetic analysis showed that his tumor had a mutation of the DDX41 gene, responsible for creating a protein that suppresses certain oncogenes, such as KIT. What's more, he discovered that his tumor not only expressed higher levels of the kinase receptor protein C-KIT compared to normal cells, but he also learned has a KIT mutation. This is noteworthy because KIT activating mutations are typically never seen in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC), which is Lawrence's cancer type. This finding could have significant implications for targeted therapies, such as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, which although usually ineffective in chRCC, may work in Lawrence's case due to his unique mutation profile. The episode also highlights a scientific paper from 2019 that reported on a patient with metastatic ChRCC who had an exceptional response to Sunitinib, despite tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) not being typically effective for this type of cancer. The patient had increased expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-B, which could be utilized as biomarkers to guide ChRCC patients toward TKI therapy. Lawrence stresses the importance of doing your own research and taking control of your health, especially when dealing with serious medical conditions. The content of this podcast and any information, advice, opinions, or statements within it are not intended and are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition you may have, and you should seek the assistance of a healthcare professional for any such conditions, and always inform your doctor of any changes you make to your lifestyle. DDX41 regulates the expression and alternative splicing of genes involved in tumorigenesis and immune response": https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/or.2021.7951 Overexpression of KIT in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: https://www.nature.com/articles/1206153 C-kit overexpression is not associated with KIT gene mutations in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma or renal oncocytoma https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S034403381400123X Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Angiogenesis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128025765000085 Determinants of resistance to VEGF-TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8183071/ Exceptional Response of Metastatic Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitors: Should Increased VEGF-C Expression Be Used to Guide Treatment? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6949673/ Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Its Receptor (VEGFR) Signaling in Angiogenesis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3411125/ Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C in renal cell carcinoma and its correlation with pathological parameters and prognosis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7475675/ The content of this podcast, and any information, advice, opinions, or statements within it are not intended and are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition you may have, and you should seek the assistance of a healthcare professional for any such conditions, and always inform your doctor of any changes you make to your lifestyle. #cancer #kidneycancer #rcc #chromophobecancer