Recent Updates from Hospital del Mar

Hospital del Mar has taken a significant step in the diagnosis of clear cell renal cancer by introducing the PET/CT Zr-89-girentuximab test in Catalonia, a non-invasive solution that promises to improve the accuracy of detecting this disease. This advancement is the result of collaboration between the Nuclear Medicine Service and the Urology and Medical Oncology departments at the hospital.

The innovative test utilizes a monoclonal antibody, girentuximab, which is tagged with the radioisotope zirconium-89. This combination creates a new radiopharmaceutical that binds to the CAIX antigen, which is overexpressed in clear cell renal cancer. This binding allows tumors to be detected with great clarity using a PET/CT scan, thereby enhancing the understanding of tumor extent and facilitating more targeted treatments.

One of the advantages of this technique is its effectiveness in analyzing questionable or small renal lesions, as well as in identifying metastases that may arise from renal tumors. This is particularly beneficial for patients with indeterminate lesions who require confirmation on whether it is a clear cell tumor, prioritizing surgery, as well as for those at risk of metastasis that may not be detected by other methods.

On July 8, the first two cases using this technique were performed at the hospital, and it is expected to be applied in around twenty cases annually. This innovation presents an option that could avoid unnecessary biopsies and surgeries, providing greater peace of mind to patients.

Clear cell renal cancer is the most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for about 80% of all cases, with around 8,000 new incidences per year in Spain. This type of cancer is more frequent in adults, although it can also occur in a percentage ranging from 2% to 6% among kidney tumors in children and young adults, underscoring the importance of having advanced diagnostic tools for its treatment and management.