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Renal cell carcinoma

 
(′rēn·əl ¦sel ′kärs·ən′ō·mə)

(medicine) A malignant renal tumor composed principally of large, often hyalin, polygonal cells. Also known as clear-cell carcinoma; Grawitz's tumor; hypernephroma.


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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

renal cell carcinoma

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Malignant tumour of the cells that cover and line the kidney. It usually affects persons over age 50 who have vascular disorders of the kidneys. It seldom causes pain, unless it is advanced. It may metastasize to other organs (e.g., lungs, liver, brain, bone) and go unrecognized until these secondary tumours cause symptoms. Blood can appear in the urine early on but is painless and usually disregarded. Even when the cancer is in the early stages, X-ray films can show deformity in kidney structures.

For more information on renal cell carcinoma, visit Britannica.com.

Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer:

Kidney Cancer

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Key Terms: Biopsy, Bone scan, Chemotherapy, Computed tomography (CT) scan, Cryoablation, Hematuria, Immunotherapy, Intravenous pyelogram, Magnetic resonance imaging, Nephrectomy, Primary tumor, Radiation therapy.

Definition

Kidney cancer is a disease in which the cells in certain tissues of the kidney start to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Renal cell carcinoma, sometimes referred to as hypernephroma, occurs in the cells lining the kidneys (epithelial cells). It is the most common type of kidney cancer. Eighty-five percent of all kidney tumors are renal cell carcinomas. Wilms' tumor is a rapidly developing cancer of the kidney most often found in children under four years of age.

Description

The kidneys are a pair of organs shaped like kidney beans that lie on either side of the spine just above the waist. Inside each kidney are tiny tubes (tubules) that filter and clean the blood, taking out the waste products and making urine. The urine that is made by the kidney passes through a tube called the ureter into the bladder. Urine is held in the bladder until it is discharged from the body. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) generally develops in the lining of the tubules that filter and clean the blood. Cancer that develops in the central portion of the kidney (where the urine is collected and drained into the ureters) is known as transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Transitional cell cancer is similar to bladder cancer. Wilms' tumor is the most common type of childhood kidney cancer and is distinct from kidney cancer in adults.

Demographics

Kidney cancer accounts for approximately 2–3% of all cancers. In the United States, kidney cancer is the tenth most common cancer and the incidence has increased by 43% since 1973; the death rate has increased by 16%. According to the American Cancer Society, 35,710 Americans were diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004, and 12,480 died from the disease. RCC accounts for 90–95% of malignant neoplasms that originate from the kidney.

Kidney cancer occurs most often in men over the age of 40. The median age of diagnosis is 65. The male: female ratio is about 3:2.

Causes and Symptoms

The causes of kidney cancer are unknown, but there are many risk factors associated with kidney cancer. The risk factors listed from greatest to smallest include:

  • von Hippel-Lindau disease (>100)
  • Chronic dialysis (32)
  • Obesity (3.6)
  • Tobacco use (2.3)
  • First-degree relative with kidney cancer (1.6)
  • Hypertension (1.4)
  • Occupational exposure to dry cleaning solvents (1.4)
  • Diuretics (non-hypertension use) (1.3)
  • Trichloroethylene exposure (1.0)
  • Heavy phenacetin use (1.1–6.0)
  • Polycystic kidney disease (0.8–2.0)
  • Cadmium exposure (1.0–3.9)
  • Arsenic exposure (1.6)
  • Asbestos (1.1–1.8)

The most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria). Other symptoms include painful urination, pain in the lower back or on the sides, abdominal pain, a lump or hard mass that can be felt in the kidney area, unexplained weight loss, fever, weakness, fatigue, and high blood pressure.

Diagnosis

A diagnostic examination for kidney cancer includes taking a thorough medical history and making a complete physical examination in which the doctor will probe (palpate) the abdomen for lumps. Blood tests will be ordered to check for changes in blood chemistry caused by substances released by the tumor. Laboratory tests may show abnormal levels of iron in the blood. Either a low red blood cell count (anemia) or a high red blood cell count (erythrocytosis) may accompany kidney cancer. Occasionally, patients will have high calcium levels.

If the doctor suspects kidney cancer, an intravenous pyelogram (also called an IVP or intravenous urography)) may be ordered. An IVP is an x-ray test in which a dye is injected into a vein in the arm. The dye travels through the body, and when it is concentrated in the urine to be discharged, it outlines the kidneys, ureters, and the urinary bladder. On an x-ray image, the dye will reveal any abnormalities of the urinary tract. The IVP may miss small kidney cancers.

Renal ultrasound is a diagnostic test in which sound waves are used to form an image of the kidneys. Ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive procedure that can be used to detect even very small kidney tumors. Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to evaluate the kidneys and the surrounding organs. These tests are used to check whether the tumor has spread outside the kidney to other organs in the abdomen. If the patient complains of bone pain, a special x ray called a bone scan may be ordered to rule out spread to the bones. A chest x ray may be taken to rule out spread to the lungs.

Akidney biopsy is used to positively confirm the diagnosis of kidney cancer. During this procedure, a small piece of tissue is removed from the tumor and examined under a microscope. The biopsy will give information about the type of tumor, the cells that are involved, and the aggressiveness of the tumor (tumor stage).

Staging, Treatment, and Prognosis

Staging

Staging guidelines for kidney cancer are as follows (2.5 cm equals approximately 1 in):

  • Stage I: Primary tumor is 5 cm or less in greatest dimension and is limited to the kidney, with no lymph node involvement.
  • Stage II: Primary tumor is larger than 5 cm in greatest dimension and is limited to the kidney, with no lymph node involvement.
  • Stage III: Primary tumor may extend into major veins or invade adrenal glands or perinephric tissues, but not beyond Gerota's fascia. There may be metastasis in a single lymph node.
  • Stage IV: Primary tumor invades beyond Gerota's fascia. Metastasis in more than one lymph node. Possible metastasis to distant structures in the body.

Treatment

Each person's treatment is different and depends on several factors. The location, size, and extent of the tumor have to be considered in addition to the patient's age, general health, and medical history. In addation, much has changed in the treatment and management of kidney cancer since the 1980s, including new surgical techniques, new anticancer drugs, and the development of effective treatments for advanced disease.

The primary treatment for kidney cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, which is a Stage I, II, or III tumor, is surgical removal of the diseased kidney (nephrectomy). Because most cancers affect only one kidney, the patient can function well with the remaining one. Two types of surgical procedure are used. Radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney and the surrounding tissue. Sometimes, the lymph nodes surrounding the kidney are also removed. Partial nephrectomy removes only part of the kidney along with the tumor. This procedure is used either when the tumor is very small or when it is not practical to remove the entire kidney. It is not practical to remove a kidney when the patient has only one kidney or when both kidneys have tumors. There is a small (5%) chance of missing some of the cancer. Nephrectomy can also be useful for Stage IV cancers, but alternative surgical procedures such as transarterial angioinfarction may be used.

The rapid development and widespread use of laparoscopic techniques has made it possible for surgeons to remove small tumors while sparing the rest of the kidney. Most tumors removed by laparoscopy are 4 cm (1.6 in) in size or smaller. Laparoscopy also allows the surgeon to remove small tumors with cryoablation (destroying the tumor by freezing it) rather than cutting.

Radiation therapy, which consists of exposing the cancer cells to high-energy gamma rays from an external source, generally destroys cancer cells with minimal damage to the normal tissue. Side effects are nausea, fatigue, and stomach upsets. These symptoms disappear when the treatment is over. In kidney cancer, radiation therapy has been shown to alleviate pain and bleeding, especially when the cancer is inoperable. However, it has not proven to be of much use in destroying the kidney cancer cells. Therefore radiation therapy is not used very often as a treatment for cancer or as a routine adjuvant to nephrectomy. Radiotherapy, however, is used to manage metastatic kidney cancer.

Treatment of kidney cancer with anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) has not produced good results. However, new drugs and new combinations of drugs continue to be tested in clinical trials. One new drug, semaxanib (SU5416), is reported to have good results in treating patients with kidney cancer. As of 2004, however, semaxanib is still undergoing clinical trials in the United States.

Immunologic therapy (or immunotherapy), a form of treatment in which the body's immune system is harnessed to help fight the cancer, is a new mode of therapy that is being tested for kidney cancer. Clinical trials with substances produced by the immune cells (aldesleukin and interferon) have shown some promise in destroying kidney cancer cells. These substances have been approved for use but they can be very toxic and produce severe side effects. The benefits derived from the treatment have to be weighed very carefully against the side effects in each case. Immunotherapy is the most promising systemic therapy for metastatic kidney cancer.

Prognosis

Because kidney cancer is often caught early and sometimes progresses slowly, the chances of a surgical cure are good. It is also one of the few cancers for which there are well-documented cases of spontaneous remission without therapy.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

There are several healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies that may be used as supplemental or instead of traditional treatments. All of the items listed may have varying effectiveness in boosting the immune system and/or treating a tumor. The efficacy of each treatment also varies from person to person. None of the treatments, however, have demonstrated safety or effectiveness on a consistent basis. Patients should research such treatments for any potential dangers (laetrile, for example, has caused death due to cyanide poisoning) and notify their physician before taking them.

  • 714-X
  • antineoplastons
  • Cancell
  • cartilage (bovine and shark)
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Gerson Therapy
  • Gonzalez Protocol
  • Hydrazine sulfate
  • immuno-augementative therapy
  • Laetrile
  • mistletoe

Coping With Cancer Treatment

Side effects of treatment, as well as nutrition, emotional well-being, and other complications, are all parts of coping with cancer. There are many possible side effects for a cancer treatment that include:

  • constipation
  • delirium
  • fatigue
  • fever, chills, sweats
  • nausea and vomiting
  • mouth sores, dry mouth, bleeding gums
  • pruritus (itching)
  • sexuality
  • sleep disorders

Anxiety, depression, loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexuality, and substance abuse are all possible emotional side-effects. Nutrition and eating before, during, and after a treatment can also be of concern. Other complications of coping with cancer include fever and pain.

Questions to Ask the Doctor

  • What should I expect from a biopsy test?
  • What type of kidney cancer do I have?
  • What is the stage of the disease?
  • What are the treatment choices? Which do you recommend? Why?
  • What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
  • What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
  • What new treatments are being studied in clinical trials?
  • How long will treatment last?
  • Will I have to stay in the hospital?
  • Will treatment affect my normal activities? If so, for how long?
  • What is the treatment likely to cost?

Clinical Trials

As of 2005, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) listed 73 clinical trials in place across the United States studying new types of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, new drugs and drug combinations, biological therapies, ways of combining various types of treatment for kidney cancer, side effect reduction, and improving quality of life. Immunostimulatory agents and gene-therapy techniques that modify tumor cells, antiangiogenesis compounds, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, and differentiating agents are all being investigated as possible therapies. The reader may consult and a doctor for a list of kidney cancer clinical trials.

Prevention

The exact cause of kidney cancer is not known, so it is not possible to prevent all cases. However, because a strong association between kidney cancer and tobacco has been shown, avoiding tobacco is the best way to lower one's risk of developing this cancer. Using care when working with cancer-causing agents such as asbestos and cadmium and eating a well-balanced diet may also help prevent kidney cancer.

Resources

Books

Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD, editors.

"Renal Cell Carcinoma (Hypernephroma; Adenocarcinoma of the Kidney)." Section 17, Chapter 233 In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2002.

Periodicals

Brauch, H., G. Weirich, B. Klein, et al. "VHL Mutations in Renal Cell Cancer: Does Occupational Exposure to Trichloroethylene Make a Difference?" Toxicology Letters 151 (June 15, 2004): 301–310.

Dutcher, J.P. "Immunotherapy: Are We Making a Difference?" Current Opinion in Urology September 2000: 435–9.

Godley, P.A., and K.I. Ataga. "Renal Cell Carcinoma." Current Opinion in Oncology May 2000: 260–4.

Griffiths, T. R., and J. K. Mellon. "Evolving Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Bladder and Renal Cancer." Postgraduate Medical Journal 80 (June 2004): 320–327.

Jennens, R. R., M. A. Rosenthal, G. J. Lindeman, and M. Michael. "Complete Radiological and Metabolic Response of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to SU5416 (Semaxanib) in a Patient with Probable von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome." Urologic Oncology 22 (May-June 2004): 193–196.

Lam, J. S., O. Svarts, and A. J. Pantuck. "Changing Concepts in the Surgical Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma." European Urology 45 (June 2004): 692–705.

Lotan, Y., D. A. Duchene, J. A. Cadeddu, et al. "Changing Management of Organ-Confined Renal Masses." Journal of Endourology 18 (April 2004): 263–268.

Moon, T. D., F. T. Lee, Jr., S. P. Hedican, et al. "Laparoscopic Cryoablation under Sonographic Guidance for the Treatment of Small Renal Tumors." Journal of Endourology 18 (June 2004): 436–440.

Organizations

American Cancer Society (National Headquarters). 1599 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. (800) 227-2345. .

American Foundation for Urologic Disease. E-mail: admin@afud.org.

American Urological Association. 1120 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. (410) 727-1100. .

Cancer Research Institute (National Headquarters). 681 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10022. (800) 992-2623. .

Kidney Cancer Association. 1234 Sherman Ave., Suite 203, Evanston, IL 60202-1375. (800) 850-9132. .

National Cancer Institute (NCI). 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 31, Room 10A16, Bethesda, MD 20892. (800) 422-6237. .

National Kidney Cancer Association. 1234 Sherman Ave., Suite 203, Evanston, IL 60202-1375. (800) 850-9132.

National Kidney Foundation. 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. (800) 622-9010. .

Other

American Cancer Society (ACS). Cancer Facts & Figures 2004..

—Lata Cherath, Ph.D.; Laura Ruth, Ph.D.; Rebecca Frey, Ph.D.

Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Renal cell carcinoma

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Renal cell carcinoma
Classification and external resources

Micrograph of the most common type of renal cell carcinoma (clear cell) - on right of the image; non-tumour kidney is on the left of the image. Nephrectomy specimen. H&E stain.
ICD-10 C64
ICD-9 189.0
ICD-O: M8312/3
OMIM 144700 605074
DiseasesDB 11245
MedlinePlus 000516
eMedicine med/2002

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC, also known as hypernephroma) is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 80% of cases.[1] It is also known to be the most lethal of all the genitourinary tumors.[citation needed] Initial treatment is most commonly a radical or partial nephrectomy and remains the mainstay of curative treatment.[2] Where the tumor is confined to the renal parenchyma, the 5-year survival rate is 60-70%, but this is lowered considerably where metastases have spread. It is relatively resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, although some cases respond to immunotherapy. Targeted cancer therapies such as sunitinib, temsirolimus, bevacizumab, interferon-alpha, and sorafenib have improved the outlook for RCC (progression-free survival), although they have not yet demonstrated improved survival.

Contents

Signs and symptoms

A wide range of symptoms can be present with renal carcinoma depending on which areas of the body have been affected.[3] The classic triad is hematuria (blood in the urine), flank pain and an abdominal mass. This triad only occurs in 10-15% of cases, and is generally indicative of more advanced disease. Today, the majority of renal tumors are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally on imaging, usually for an unrelated cause.

Signs may include:

  • abnormal urine color (dark, rusty, or brown) due to blood in the urine (found in 60% of cases)
  • loin pain (found in 40% of cases)
  • abdominal mass (25% of cases)
  • malaise, weight loss or anorexia (30% of cases)[4]
  • polycythemia (5% of cases)[4]
  • anemia resulting from depression of erythropoietin (30% of cases)[4] Also, there may be erythrocytosis (increased production of red blood cells) due to increased erythropoietin secretion.[4]
  • the presenting symptom may be due to metastatic disease, such as a pathologic fracture of the hip due to a metastasis to the bone
  • varicocele, the enlargement of one testicle, usually on the left (2% of cases[5]). This is due to blockage of the left testicular vein by tumor invasion of the left renal vein; this typically does not occur on the right as the right gonadal vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
  • vision abnormalities
  • pallor or plethora
  • hirsutism - excessive hair growth (females)
  • constipation
  • hypertension (high blood pressure) resulting from secretion of renin by the tumour (30% of cases)[4]
  • elevated calcium levels (hypercalcemia)
  • Stauffer syndrome - paraneoplastic, non-metastatic liver disease
  • night sweats
  • severe weight loss

Patients may also experience the following symptoms:

Classification

Micrograph of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Nephrectomy specimen. H&E stain.
Micrograph of papillary renal cell carcinoma, showing vascular papillae with foam cells. H&E stain.
Micrograph of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma oncocytic variant. H&E stain.

Recent genetic studies have altered the approaches used in classifying renal cell carcinoma. The following system can be used to classify these tumors:[10][11][12]

Renal epithelial neoplasms have characteristic cytogenetic aberrations that can aid in classification.[13] See also Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology.

  • clear cell carcinoma: loss of 3p
  • papillary carcinoma: trisomy 7, 16, 17
  • chromophobe carcinoma: hypodiploid with loss of chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 10, 13, 17, 21

Array-based karyotyping can be used to identify characteristic chromosomal aberrations in renal tumors with challenging morphology.[14][15] Array-based karyotyping performs well on paraffin embedded tumors[16] and is amenable to routine clinical use. See also Virtual Karyotype for CLIA certified laboratories offering array-based karyotyping of solid tumors.

Other associated genes include TRC8, OGG1, HNF1A, HNF1B, TFE3, RCCP3, and RCC17.

Epidemiology

The incidence of renal cell cancer has been rising steadily. Nearly 51190 new diagnoses and 12890 deaths reported in the United States in 2007. It is more common in men than women: the male-to-female ratio is 1.6:1 and has been decreasing over the last decade. Blacks have a slightly higher rate of renal cell cancer than whites. The reasons for this are not clear.[17] Note: in epidemiology, RCC is registered together with renal pelvis carcinoma, which is predominantly transitional cell type.

In Europe the incidence of RCC has doubled in the period from 1975 to 2005.[18] RCC accounted for 3777 deaths in the UK in 2006; male 2372, female 1820.[19][20][21]

Risk factors

Household and Industrial chemicals are considered the leading cause and strongest known risk factors. Hypertension and a family history of the disease are also risk factors.[22] Occupational exposure to cadmium is a risk factor.

Dialysis patients with acquired cystic disease of the kidney showed a 30 times greater risk than in the general population for developing RCC.[23]

Exposure to asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, gasoline has not been shown to be consistently associated with RCC risk.[24]

Patients with certain inherited disorders such as von Hippel-Lindau disease, hereditary papillary renal cancer, a hereditary leiomyoma RCC syndrome and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, show an enhanced risk of RCC.[25][26][27] Also, patients with sickle cell trait are predisposed to developing Renal medullary carcinoma.

Hysterectomy is associated with an approximately doubled risk. Hormonal factors or injury of the ureter during surgery were considered as possible causes.[28][29]

Diagnosis

An accurate diagnosis may be difficult to establish given that the early stages of renal cancer are asymptomatic.

The first steps taken in order to diagnose this condition are observing any of the signs and symptoms, and an anamnesis (the detailed medical review of past health state) to evaluate any risk factors. Upon physical examination, palpation of the abdomen may reveal the presence of a mass or an organ enlargement.[30]

However, the main diagnostic tool for detecting renal cell carcinoma is ultrasound of the kidneys.[31] If the ultrasound shows a mass or cyst, a subsequent abdominal CT is the optimal test for diagnosis and staging.[31]

Radiology

The characteristic appearance of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a solid renal lesion which disturbs the renal contour. It will frequently have an irregular or lobulated margin. Traditionally 85 to 90% of solid renal masses will turn out to be RCC but this number may be decreasing as renal masses are being found at smaller and smaller sizes with larger numbers of benign lesions. Ten percent of RCC will contain calcifications, and some contain macroscopic fat (likely due to invasion and encasement of the perirenal fat).

Renal cell carcinoma may also be cystic. As there are several benign cystic renal lesions (simple renal cyst, hemorrhagic renal cyst, multilocular cystic nephroma, polycystic kidney disease), it may occasionally be difficult for the radiologist to differentiate a benign cystic lesion from a malignant one. A classification system for cystic renal lesions that classifies them based specific imaging features into groups that are benign and those that need surgical resection is available.[32]

Percutaneous biopsy can be performed by a radiologist using ultrasound or computed tomography to guide sampling of the tumor for the purpose of diagnosis by pathology. However this is not routinely performed because when the typical imaging features of renal cell carcinoma are present, the possibility of an incorrectly negative result together with the risk of a medical complication to the patient make it unfavorable from a risk-benefit perspective. This is not completely accurate, there are new experimental treatments.

Staging

The staging of renal cell carcinoma is the most important factor in predicting its prognosis.[33] Staging can follow the TNM staging system, where the size and extent of the tumour (T), involvement of lymph nodes (N) and metastases (M) are classified separately. Also, it can use overall stage grouping into stage I-IV, with the 1997 revision of AJCC described below:[33]

Stage I Tumor of a diameter of 7 cm (approx. 234 inches) or smaller, and limited to the kidney. No lymph node involvement or metastases to distant organs.
Stage II Tumor larger than 7.0 cm but still limited to the kidney. No lymph node involvement or metastases to distant organs.
Stage III
any of the following
Tumor of any size with involvement of a nearby lymph node but no metastases to distant organs. Tumor of this stage may be with or without spread to fatty tissue around the kidney, with or without spread into the large veins leading from the kidney to the heart.
Tumor with spread to fatty tissue around the kidney and/or spread into the large veins leading from the kidney to the heart, but without spread to any lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage IV
any of the following
Tumor that has spread directly through the fatty tissue and the fascia ligament-like tissue that surrounds the kidney.
Involvement of more than one lymph node near the kidney
Involvement of any lymph node not near the kidney
Distant metastases, such as in the lungs, bone, or brain.

At diagnosis, 30% of renal cell carcinomas have spread to the ipsilateral renal vein, and 5-10% have continued into the inferior vena cava.[34]

Histopathology

Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma

The gross and microscopic appearance of renal cell carcinomas is highly variable. The following describes a typical clear cell carcinoma, which is the most common type.

The renal cell carcinoma may present reddened areas where blood vessels have bled, and cysts containing watery fluids.[35] The body of the tumor shows large blood vessels that have walls composed of cancerous cells.

Gross examination often shows a yellowish, multilobulated tumor in the renal cortex, which frequently contains zones of necrosis, hemorrhage and scarring.

Light microscopy shows tumor cells forming cords, papillae, tubules or nests, and are atypical, polygonal and large. Also, the cells that make up a renal carcinoma may be clear, granular, mixed clear and granular or sarcomatoid or spindle type. Recent studies have brought to attention that the type of cancerous cells and the aggressiveness of the condition are closely related.Because these cells accumulate glycogen and lipids, their cytoplasm appear "clear", the nuclei remain in the middle of the cells, and the cellular membrane is evident. Some cells may be smaller, with eosinophilic cytoplasm, resembling normal tubular cells. The stroma is reduced, but well vascularized. The tumor compresses the surrounding parenchyma, producing a pseudocapsule.[36]

The clear cells are thought to be the least likely to spread and usually respond more favorably to treatment.[37] However, most of the tumors contain a mixture of cells. The most aggressive stage of renal cancer is believed to be the one in which the tumor is mixed, containing both clear and granular cells.

Prognosis

A study in Turkey that used the 1997 AJCC staging system estimated the five year survival rate to be 90% for stage I, 51% for stage II, 22% for stage III and 4.6% for stage IV.[38] The same study estimated the median survival time to be 7.7 years for stage I, 5.0 years for stage II, 3.1 years for stage III and 1.1 years for stage IV.[38]

For those that have tumor recurrence after surgery, the prognosis is generally poor. Renal cell carcinoma does not generally respond to chemotherapy or radiation. Immunotherapy, which attempts to induce the body to attack the remaining cancer cells, has shown promise. Recent trials are testing newer agents, though the current complete remission rate with these approaches are still low, around 12-20% in most series. Most recently, treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors including nexavar, pazopanib, and rapamycin have shown promise in improving the prognosis for advanced RCC since 2004.

Treatment

If it is only in the kidneys, which is about 40% of cases, it can be cured roughly 90% of the time with surgery. If it has spread outside of the kidneys, often into the lymph nodes or the main vein of the kidney, then it must be treated with adjunctive therapy, including cytoreductive surgery. RCC is resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in most cases, but does respond well to immunotherapy with interleukin-2 or interferon-alpha, biologic, or targeted therapy. In early stage cases, cryotherapy and surgery are the preferred options.

Watchful waiting

Small renal tumors (< 4 cm) are treated increasingly by way of partial nephrectomy when possible.[39][40][41] Most of these small renal masses manifest indolent biological behavior with excellent prognosis.[42] More centers of excellence are incorporating needle biopsy to confirm the presence of malignant histology prior to recommending definitive surgical extirpation. In the elderly, patients with co-morbidities and in poor surgical candidates, small renal tumors may be monitored carefully with serial imaging. Most clinicians conservatively follow tumors up to a size threshold between 3 and 5 cm, beyond which the risk of distant spread (metastases) is about 5%.

Cryoablation

Cryoablation is used in a variety of clinical applications using hollow needles (cryoprobes) through which cooled, thermally conductive, fluids are circulated. Cryoprobes are inserted into or placed adjacent to tissue which is determined to be diseased in such a way that ablation will provide correction yielding benefit to the patient. When the probes are in place, the cryogenic freezing unit removes heat ("cools") from the tip of the probe and by extension from the surrounding tissues. The most common application of cryoablation is to ablate solid tumors found in the lung, liver, breast, kidney and prostate. The use in prostate and renal cryoablation are the most common. Although sometimes applied through laparoscopic or open surgical approaches, most often cryoablation is performed percutaneously (through the skin and into the target tissue containing the tumor).

Surgery

Micrograph of embolic material in a kidney removed because of renal cell carcinoma (cancer not shown). H&E stain.

Surgical removal of all or part of the kidney (nephrectomy) is recommended.[2] This may include removal of the adrenal gland, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and possibly tissues involved by direct extension (invasion) of the tumor into the surrounding tissues. In cases where the tumor has spread into the renal vein, inferior vena cava, and possibly the right atrium, this portion of the tumor can be surgically removed, as well. In cases of known metastases, surgical resection of the kidney ("cytoreductive nephrectomy") may improve survival,[43] as well as resection of a solitary metastatic lesion. Kidneys are sometimes embolized prior to surgery to minimize blood loss[1] (see image).

Surgery is increasingly performed via laparoscopic techniques. These have the advantage of being less of a burden for the patient and the disease-free survival is comparable to that of open surgery.[2] For small exophytic lesions that do not extensively involve the major vessels or urinary collecting system, a partial nephrectomy (also referred to as "nephron sparing surgery") can be performed. This may involve temporarily stopping blood flow to the kidney while the mass is removed as well as renal cooling with an ice slush. Mannitol can also be administered to help limit damage to the kidney. This is usually done through an open incision although smaller lesions can be done laparoscopically with or without robotic assistance.

Laparoscopic cryotherapy can also be done on smaller lesions. Typically a biopsy is taken at the time of treatment. Intraoperative ultrasound may be used to help guide placement of the freezing probes. Two freeze/thaw cycles are then performed to kill the tumor cells. As the tumor is not removed followup is more complicated (see below) and overall disease free rates are not as good as those obtained with surgical removal.

Percutaneous therapies

Percutaneous, image-guided therapies, usually managed by radiologists, are being offered to patients with localized tumor, but who are not good candidates for a surgical procedure. This sort of procedure involves placing a probe through the skin and into the tumor using real-time imaging of both the probe tip and the tumor by computed tomography, ultrasound, or even magnetic resonance imaging guidance, and then destroying the tumor with heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryotherapy). These modalities are at a disadvantage compared to traditional surgery in that pathologic confirmation of complete tumor destruction is not possible. Therefore, long-term follow-up is crucial to assess completeness of tumour ablation.[44][45]

Medications for advanced or metastatic cases

RCC "elicits an immune response, which occasionally results in dramatic spontaneous remissions." This has encouraged a strategy of using immunomodulating therapies, such as cancer vaccines and interleukin-2 (IL-2), to reproduce this response. IL-2 has produced "durable remissions" in a small number of patients, but with substantial toxicity. Another strategy is to restore the function of the VHL gene, which is to destroy proteins that promote inappropriate vascularization. Bevacizumab, an antibody to VEGF, has significantly prolonged time to progression, but As of 2008 phase 3 trials have not been published. Sunitinib (Sutent), sorafenib (Nexavar), and temsirolimus, which are small-molecule inhibitors of proteins, have been approved by the U.S. F.D.A.[46]

Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors including Nexavar, pazopanib, and rapamycin have shown promise in improving the prognosis for advanced RCC since 2004.

Sorafenib (Nexavar), a protein kinase inhibitor, was FDA approved in December 2005 for treatment of advanced renal cell cancer.

A month later, Sunitinib (Sutent) was approved as well. Sunitinib (an oral, small-molecule, multi-targeted (RTK) inhibitor) and sorafenib both interfere with tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis as well as tumor cell proliferation. Sunitinib appears to offer greater potency against advanced RCC, perhaps because it inhibits more receptors than sorafenib.

2007 on

Temsirolimus (CCI-779) is an inhibitor of mTOR kinase (mammalian target of rapamycin) that was shown to prolong overall survival vs. interferon-α in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma with three or more poor prognostic features. It was approved in May 2007 by the US FDA, and approved in EU in Nov 2007.

2007: Sunitinib; The first Phase III study comparing an RTKI with cytokine therapy was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study showed that Sunitinib offered superior efficacy compared with interferon-α. Progression-free survival (the primary endpoint) was more than doubled. The benefit for sunitinib was significant across all major patient subgroups, including those with a poor prognosis at baseline. 28% of sunitinib patients had significant tumor shrinkage compared with only 5% of patients who received interferon-α. Although overall survival data are As of 2007 not yet mature, there is a clear trend toward improved survival with sunitinib. Patients receiving sunitinib also reported a significantly better quality of life than those treated with IFNa.[47]

June 2008: Good results were reported for Thalomid and Revlimid in trials for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.[48]

March 2009 : Everolimus (Afinitor) (an oral once-daily inhibitor of mTOR) was approved by the US FDA for first treatment for patients with advanced kidney cancer after failure of either sunitinib or sorafenib.

2009: Carfilzomib, a novel proteasome inhibitor, shows efficacy and is well tolerated in relapsed RCC. [49]

In 2010 a Phase III trial of Axitinib for previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) showed significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) when compared to sorafenib.[50]

Jan 2012 : Tivozanib showed improved PFS over sorafenib in a phase III trial.

Chemotherapy

Most of the currently available cytostatics are ineffective for the treatment of RCC. Their use can not be recommended for the treatment of patients with metastasized RCC,as response rates are very low,often just 5-15%,and most responses are short lived.[1] The use of Tyrosine Kinase (TK) inhibitors, such as Sunitinib and Sorafenib, and Temsirolimus are described in a different section

Vaccine

Cancer vaccines, such as TroVax, have shown promising results in phase 2 trials for treatment of renal cell carcinoma.[51] However, issues of tumor immunosuppression and lack of identified tumor-associated antigens must be addressed before vaccine therapy can be applied successfully in advanced renal cell cancer.[52]

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma

The metastatic stage of renal cell carcinoma occurs when the disease invades and spreads to other organs. It is most likely to spread to neighboring lymph nodes, the lungs, the liver, the bones, or the brain.[53] Metastatic renal cell carcinoma presents a special challenge to oncologists, as about 70% of patients develop metastases during the course of their disease, and 5 year survival for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is between 5 and 15%, although it is much improved if metastatectomy and nephrectomy to remove all visible disease is performed. Even if metastases are not removed, cytoreductive nephrectomy is sometimes used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and at least one study has supported the use of this operation in "some cases", citing improved response rates to interleukin-2 immunotherapy and modestly prolonged survival.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have less of a role in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma than in other malignancies; but they are still sometimes used in treatment of the metastatic disease. Radiotherapy is used in in cases of bone metastases, to reduce pain and lower the risk of pathologic fracture, in patients with brain metastases, and to palliate symptoms of metastatic disease to the liver, adrenals, or lungs.

Interleukin-2 has been the standard of care since the 1990s in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, as, although response rates are low [7-16%], about half of patients that respond have long term disease-free survival, and some of these patients may be completely cured. However,the side effects of interleukin-2 are severe, including decreased neutrophil function, increased risk of disseminated infection, including central venous catheter infections, septicaemia, bacterial endocarditis, and capillary leak syndrome, which can result in myocardial infarction, renal failure, angina, hypotension, reduced organ perfusion, altered mental status, pulmonary failure requiring intubation, cardiac arrhythmias, edema, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

The use of proleukin can also result in lethargy and somnolence; if interleukin-2 therapy is not discontinued lethargy may progress to coma. Interleukin-2 can also worsen preexisting autoimmune diseases. Neurological side effects can also occur, and include ataxia, cortical blindness, hallucinations, psychosis, speech problems, and coma. Other side effects include abdominal pain, rigors, fever, malaise, asthenia, acidosis, tachycardia, vasodilatation, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores, loss of appetite, dermatitis, dyspnea, thrombocytopenia, and anaemia. Therefore, patients must be in good health with normal cardiovascular, hepatic, pulmonary,and neurological function to be treated with interleukin-2.

Recently, targeted therapies such as torisel, nexavar, sutent, votrient, and bevacizumab, have been developed, and all are now approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The three to five years up to 2009 saw dramatic improvements in treatment for those with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, despite these improvements in therapy, overall survival remains poor.

Currently[when?], tumor vaccines and chemotherapeutic, biologic, and immunologic agents are being researched in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and some appear promising. It is not known whether or not detecting metastases earlier improves survival or response to treatment.[citation needed]

Adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma

Adjuvent therapy is typically a secondary treatment that is administered after all visible cancer has either been surgically excised, radiated or otherwise eliminated, in order to prevent any new (metastatic) cancer growths from re-appearing. The re-appearance of cancer typically occurs after micro-cancerous cells remain in the body after the primary cancer has been removed.

There is currently no established adjuvant therapy for renal cell carcinoma, although there have been a number of clinical trials exploring the effectiveness of various potential treatments.

The use of non-specific cytokines has so far been shown to be ineffective. Unlike most other cancers, renal cell carcinoma is resistant to most cytotoxic and cytostatic agents,which severely limits possible effective adjuvant therapy. Trials of "cancer vaccines", radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or biologic therapies (i.e. nexavar, sutent) have been met with little success,and currently the standard of care for completely resected high-risk renal cell carcinoma is close observation with no other therapy. There does appear to be some evidence that if there cancer is incompletely resected (positive surgical margins,adrenal involvement,vena caval involvement) radiotherapy reduces the risk of invasive local disease,but data is lacking on that as well.[citation needed]

There have also been a number of trials of Autolymphocyte therapy (ALT) which have shown varying degrees of efficacy.[54][55][56][57][58]

ALT is a form of outpatient adoptive immunotherapy utilizing autologous ex vivo activated T-cells accompanied by high dose cimetidine.

History

Historically, RCC was also known as nephrocellular carcinoma.[59] Paul Grawitz first described renal cell carcinoma in 1883.

See also

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