Non-Invasive Diagnostics of Small Renal Masses

NiSAR is a Ph.D. study and consists of three substudies. Renal cancer is one of the most deadly urologic malignancies and accounts for 900 new cases and 300 deaths per year. An increase in the use of imaging diagnostics has yielded a rise in the incidental detection of small renal masses (SRM), meaning tumors \<4cm (T1a). Kidney biopsies are the gold standard for diagnosing SRM but has an inherent risk of infections, retroperitoneal bleeding and in rare cases loss of kidney function. This is problematic since up to 30% of SRM are benign. This Ph.D. consists of three studies that all aim to develop new minimally invasive modalities for diagnosing SRM. Patients eligible for these studies are diagnosed with SRM at one of the departments of Urology in the southern region of Denmark. Studies 1 and 2 aims to find circulating biomarkers, in the form of DNA and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) contained in micro vesicles secreted into blood by renal cell cancers and find changes in biomarkers levels after surgery. Study 3 aim to determine the potential of multiplanar MRI (mpMRI) to discriminate between benign and malign SRM. Potentially this can lead to a fundamental change of the way urologists diagnose and monitor SRM and renal cell cancer in general. The investigators will also build a research biobank for future research.