Abstract

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is the second most common histological subtype of renal cell carcinoma, accounting for approximately 10 - 15% of all RCC cases. Although its incidence is lower than that of clear renal cell carcinoma, patients with advanced or metastatic PRCC exhibit significantly shorter survival. Recent studies have demonstrated a strong association between PRCC and activating mutations in the MET gene. Notably, up to 81% of type 1 PRCC cases are MET-driven, involving MET tyrosine kinase domain mutations, chromosome 7 copy number gains, and MET gene amplification. As an oncogene implicated in tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis, MET has emerged as a promising target for precision therapies. In this manuscript, we review the pathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry, the spectrum of MET mutations and amplifications in PRCC.