Transcriptional effects of extended opioid exposure in clear cell renal cell carcinomas.

Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma for extended periods of time in assistance for pain management. Because extended opioid exposure has been shown to affect the vasculature and to be immunosuppressive, we investigated how it may affect the metabolism and physiology of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma. RNA sequencing of archived patient’s specimens with extended opioid exposure or non-opioid exposure were peformed. The mRNA profiling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) section of clear cell kidney tumors from patients with "extended opioid exposure” (>=6 weeks), compared to those from patients with untreated (naïve) clear cell kidney tumors.