Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 3p in clear cell renal tumors suggested the location of a predisposing gene for RCC.¹¹ Positional cloning in VHL kindreds defined the disease locus to chromosome 3p25-26, leading to the cloning of the VHL gene in 1993.⁵ VHL is a tumor suppressor gene in which both copies of VHL must be inactivated for tumor initiation. Germline VHL mutations that predispose to VHL encompass the entire mutation spectrum, including large deletions, protein-truncating mutations, and missense mutations that exchange the amino acid in the VHL protein. Over 1,000 different VHL mutations have been identified in more than 945 VHL families worldwide. Mutations are located throughout the entire gene with the exception of the first 35 residues in the acidic domain.¹⁰ With the development of new methods for detection of deletions, VHL mutation detection rates are approaching 100%.¹²,¹³ VHL subclasses based on the predisposition to develop pheochromocytomas, and high or low risk of RCC are established with interesting genotype-phenotype associations.¹⁴

In 1979 Cohen et al.¹⁵ described a family with a constitutional t(3;8)(p14;q24) balanced translocation that cosegregated with bilateral multifocal clear cell renal tumors. Loss of the derivative chromosome carrying the 3p segment and different
somatic mutations in the remaining copy of VHL were identified in the tumors from this translocation family. Based on these data Schmidt et al.¹⁶ proposed a three-step tumorigenesis model in 3p translocation families: (1) inheritance of the constitutional translocation, (2) loss of the derivative chromosome bearing 3p25, and (3) mutation of the remaining copy of VHL, resulting in inactivation of both copies of VHL and predisposing to clear cell RCC. A number of chromosome 3 translocation families have been described.¹⁷,¹⁸ Loss of the derivative chromosome concomitant with somatic mutation of the remaining copy of VHL in these families provides strong evidence for the three-step tumorigenesis model and implicates VHL loss in clear cell RCC that develops in chromosome 3 translocation kindreds.

Mutation of the VHL gene is found in a high percentage of tumors from patients with clear cell kidney cancer.¹⁹ Nickerson et al.²⁰ recently identified mutation or methylation of the VHL gene in 92% of clear cell kidney cancers. VHL gene mutation is not found in papillary, chromophobe, collecting duct, medullary, or other types of kidney cancer.

The most well-understood function of the VHL protein pVHL is the substrate recognition site for the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α family of transcription factors targeting them for ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation (Fig. 20.1).¹⁴ pVHL binds through its α domain to elongin C and forms an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex with elongin B, cullin-2, and Rbx-1. Under normal oxygen conditions, HIF-α becomes hydroxylated on critical prolines by a family of HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHD) that require 2-oxoglutarate, molecular oxygen, ascorbic acid, and iron as cofactors. pVHL then binds to hydroxylated HIF-α through its β domain, targeting HIF-α for ubiquitylation by the E3 ligase complex. Under hypoxic conditions when PHDs are unable to function or when pVHL is mutated, altering its binding to HIF-α or elongin C binding, HIF-α cannot be recognized by pVHL. HIF-α accumulates and transcriptionally upregulates a number of genes important in blood vessel development (EPO, VEGF), cell proliferation (PDGFβ, TGFα), and glucose metabolism (GLUT-1).¹⁴ HIF-α dependent up-regulation of target genes involved in neovascularization provides an explanation for the increased vascularity of central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas and clear cell renal tumors in VHL. Germline VHL mutations frequently occur in the pVHL binding domains for HIF-α and elongin C.²¹ HIF-2α, rather than HIF-1α, stabilization appears to be critical for renal tumor development.²²,²³ Additional HIF-dependent and HIF-independent functions for pVHL have been reported.¹⁰,¹⁴

In 1995 Zbar et al.²⁷ described ten families in which multifocal, bilateral papillary renal tumors were inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and suggested that these families might represent a hereditary counterpart to sporadic papillary tumors. Schmidt et al.⁶ localized the HPRC disease locus to chromosome 7q31.1-34 by linkage analysis. Since trisomy of chromosome 7 was described as a hallmark feature of papillary renal tumors,²⁸ a gain-of-function oncogene seemed a likely candidate disease gene; in fact, germline missense mutations were identified in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET protooncogene located at 7q31 in affected HPRC family members.⁶ Mutations of the MET gene have been detected in 13% of sporadic papillary renal tumors.⁶,²⁹ Further studies to determine the role of MET and related genes in papillary type 1 kidney cancer are currently under way.

The MET protooncogene encodes the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor tyrosine kinase. Binding of ligand HGF to MET triggers autophosphorylation of critical tyrosines in the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, subsequent phosphorylation of tyrosines in the multifunctional docking site, and recruitment of a variety of transducers of downstream signaling cascades that regulate cellular programs, leading to cell growth, branching morphogenesis, differentiation, and “invasive growth.”³⁰ Although MET overexpression has been demonstrated in a number of epithelial cancers,³¹ HPRC was the first cancer syndrome for which germline MET mutations were identified. The missense MET mutations in HPRC are constitutively activating without ligand stimulation, display oncogenic potential in vitro,³²,³³ and are predicted by molecular modeling to stabilize active MET kinase.³⁴ Nonrandom duplication of the chromosome 7 bearing the mutant MET allele was demonstrated in papillary renal tumors from HPRC patients³⁵ and may represent the second step in HPRC tumor pathogenesis. The presence of two copies of mutant MET may give kidney cells a proliferative growth advantage and lead to tumor progression.