Lipoxygenases make an impact on every stage of
cancer affecting
carcinogenesis,
metastasis and apoptosis. While there is a rich literature on individual
lipoxygenases we lack extensive data on their coexistence and balance in different organs and types of
cancer.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of
kidney cancer in adults, characterized by a lack of early warning signs, diverse clinical manifestations, resistance to radiation and
chemotherapy. One third of patients will relapse and the 5‑year survival rate is <10% in cases of
metastases. Many drugs are metabolized in the kidneys and might interact with
lipoxygenases that are
biocatalysts for many endo- and
xenobiotics. In the present study, we examined the kidney tissue from healthy individuals and
cancer patients by immunohistochemical analysis for the presence of 3
lipoxygenases: 5-LOX, 12S-LOX and 15-LOX-1. Our findings confirmed their coexistence and opposite trends of manifestation in the course of disease with increased 15-LOX-1 and decreased 5- and 12-LOX levels at the onset of
cancer reversing with the progressing stage of the disease or the grade of
tumor. Unlike other
malignancies, there are no
biomarkers to individualize RCC management. Modern
therapies are using TKI
therapy, targeting
VEGF and may cause
hypertension as a side-effect. 12S-LOX is intertwined with
kinases and
VEGF and increased secretion of 12S-HETE in urine is known to accompany
hypertension. Thus, it may be valuable to probe 12S-LOX activity and monitor its natural metabolite to seek a possible aid in directing the treatment of patients.