Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Renal cell carcinoma

 
Medical Encyclopedia: Kidney Cancer

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, which occurs in the cells lining the kidneys (epithelial cells), 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 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 cancer of the renal pelvis. Transitional cell cancer is similar to bladder cancer.

Kidney cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 30,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be found in 1998. Kidney cancer occurs most often in people between 50 and 60 years old. Men are twice as likely as women to have cancer of the kidney. Other risk factors for the development of kidney cancer include Hispanic heritage, and pre-existing von Hippel-Lindau disease.

— Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt



Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Sci-Tech Dictionary: renal-cell carcinoma
Top
(′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.


Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: renal cell carcinoma
Top

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.

Oncology Encyclopedia: Kidney Cancer
Top

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: Renal cell carcinoma
Top
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
MeSH D002292

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. Initial treatment is most commonly a radical or partial nephrectomy and remains the mainstay of curative treatment.[2] Where the tumour 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 resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, although some cases respond to immunotherapy. Targeted cancer therapies such as sunitinib, temsirolimus, bevacizumab, interferon-alpha, and possibly sorafenib have improved the outlook for RCC (progression-free survival), although they have not yet demonstrated improved survival.

Contents

Signs and symptoms

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)
  • Polycythemia (5% of cases)
  • Anaemia resulting from depression of erythropoietin (5% of cases)
  • 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[3]). 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)
  • Elevated calcium levels (Hypercalcemia)
  • Paraneoplastic disease
  • Night Sweats
  • Severe Weight Loss

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:[4][5][6]

Renal epithelial neoplasms have characteristic cytogenetic aberrations that can aid in classification[7]. See also Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology.

  • Clear cell carcinoma: loss of 3p
  • Papillary carcinoma: trisomy 7 and 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.[8][9] Array-based karyotyping performs well on paraffin embedded tumors[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] RCC accounted for 3777 deaths in the UK in 2006; male 2372, female 1820.[13][14][15]

Risk factors

Cigarette smoking and obesity are the strongest risk factors. Hypertension and a family history of the disease are also risk factors.[16]

Dialysis patients with acquired cystic disease of the kidney showed a 30 times greater risk than in the general population for developing RCC. [17]

Exposure to asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, gasoline has not been shown to be consistently associated with RCC risk.[18]

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.[19][20][21]

Diagnosis

By Signs and symptoms But unfortunately, early kidney cancers do not usually cause any signs or symptoms, but larger ones may. Anamnesis (detailed medical review of past health state) Physical examination A physical exam can provide information about signs of kidney cancer and other health problems. The doctor checks general signs of health and tests for fever and high blood pressure. and the doctor may be able to feel an abnormal mass when he or she examines your abdomen.

If a patient has symptoms that suggest kidney cancer, the doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:

Lab tests Lab tests are not usually used to diagnose kidney cancer, but they can sometimes give the first hint that there may be a kidney problem. They are also done to get a sense of a person’s overall health and to help tell if cancer may have spread to other areas. They can help tell if a person is healthy enough to have an operation. Urinalysis(Urine tests) These set of tests check for several indicators of the cancer such as blood, sugar, proteins, and bacteria. Complete blood count A complete blood count can detect findings sometimes seen with renal cell cancer. Blood chemistry tests Blood chemistry tests are usually done in people who may have kidney cancer, as it can affect the levels of certain chemicals in the blood.

Imaging tests Imaging tests use x-rays, magnetic fields, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. imaging tests can give doctors a reasonable amount of certainty that a kidney mass is (or is not) cancerous. Unlike most other cancers, doctors can often diagnose a kidney cancer fairly certainly without the need for a biopsy. In some patients, however, a biopsy may be needed to be sure.

Computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, intravenous pyelograms, and ultrasound can be very helpful in diagnosing most kinds of kidney tumors, although patients rarely need all of these tests.

Computed tomography(CT) This imaging test is similar with an x-ray test, and creates a detailed cross-sectional image of the body. Instead of taking one picture, like a regular x-ray, a CT scanner takes many pictures as it rotates around you while you lie on a table. And CT scan creates detailed images of the soft tissues in the body.

CT scanning is one of the most useful tests for finding and looking at a mass inside your kidney. It is also useful in checking whether or not a cancer has spread to organs and tissues beyond the kidney. The CT scan will provide precise information about the size, shape, and position of a tumor, and can help find enlarged lymph nodes that might contain cancer.


Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) Like CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide detailed images of soft tissues in the body. But MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed by the tissues and then revealed into a recognizable pattern on a special monitor.

They may be done in cases where CT scans aren’t practical, such as if a person is allergic to the CT contrast dye. MRI scans may also be done if there’s a chance that the cancer involves a major vein in the abdomen (the inferior vena cava), because they provide a better picture of blood vessels than CT scans.

But MRI scans are a little more uncomfortable than CT scans. First, they take longer — often up to an hour. Second, you have to lie inside a narrow tube, which is confining and can upset people with claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces).

Ultrasound or ultrasonography Ultrasound imaging is a safe, noninvasive and brief test that can detect tumors. Ultrasound imaging is a medical technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an interior image of the body on a special computer screen. For this test, a small, microphone-like instrument called a transducer is placed on the skin near the kidney. Ultrasound can be helpful in determining if a kidney mass is solid or filled with fluid. The echo patterns produced by most kidney tumors look different from those of normal kidney tissue.

If a kidney biopsy is needed, this test can be used to guide a biopsy needle into the mass to obtain a sample.

Positron emission tomography(PET scan) This is a very specialized imaging technique that provides useful information about the tumor location and how far the cancer has spread. The Pet scan uses radioactive glucose (known as fluorodeoxyglucose or FDG) to locate the cancer, because the cancerous cells absorb a higher amount of this substance than normal tissues.

This test can be useful to see if the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the kidney. PET scans can also be useful if your doctor thinks the cancer may have spread but doesn’t know where.

Intravenous pyelogram(IVP) The doctor injects dye into a vein in the arm. The dye travels from the bloodstream into the kidneys and then passes into the ureters and bladder. The dye makes them show up on x-rays. An IVP can be useful in finding abnormalities of the urinary tract, such as cancer, but you might not need an IVP if you have already had a CT or MRI.


Angiography Like the IVP, this type of x-ray also uses a contrast dye. the doctor administrates a contrast agent into an artery (usually renal artery) that carries the blood to the kidneys. This contrast agent is absorbed by the cancerous cells and displayed on an angiogram. Because angiography can outline the blood vessels that supply a kidney tumor, it can help a surgeon plan surgery in some patients who need blood vessels mapped before the operation. Angiography can also help diagnose renal cancers since the blood vessels usually have a special appearance with this test.


Other tests described here, such as chest x-rays and bone scans, are more often used to help determine if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body

Chest x-ray

Bone scan

Biopsy Biopsies are not often used to diagnose kidney tumors. Imaging studies usually provide enough information. But, biopsy is sometimes used to get a small sample of cells from a suspicious area if imaging test results are not conclusive enough to warrant removing a kidney. Biopsy may also be done to confirm the diagnosis of cancer if a person’s health is too poor for surgery and other local treatments (such as radiofrequency ablation, arterial embolization or cryotherapy) are being considered. (10 questions to ask your doctor before a Biopsy)

Fine needle aspiration This procedure involves taking a sample of tissue from the tumor by using a thin needle attached to a syringe. Fine needle aspiration is performed only if the tumor can be easy reached. In kidney cancer patients, fine needle aspiration is the most used procedure of removing a sample of tissue.

Core needle biopsy This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves removing a small cylinder of tumor tissue.

Fuhrman grade The Fuhrman grade is determined by looking at kidney cancer cells (taken during a biopsy or during surgery) under a microscope. It is used by many doctors as a way to describe how aggressive the cancer is likely to be. The grade is based on how closely the cancer cells’ nuclei (part of a cell in which DNA is stored) look like those of normal kidney cells.

Renal cell cancers are usually graded on a scale of 1 through 4. Grade 1 renal cell cancers have cell nuclei that differ very little from normal kidney cell nuclei. These cancers usually grow and spread slowly and tend to have a good outlook (prognosis). At the other extreme, grade 4 renal cell cancer nuclei look quite different from normal kidney cell nuclei and have a worse prognosis.

Although the cell type and grade are sometimes helpful in predicting a prognosis, the cancer’s stage is by far the best predictor of survival. Staging is explained in Kidney cancer staging.[1]

Pathology

Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma

Gross examination 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. Because these cells accumulate glycogen and lipids, their cytoplasm appear "clear", lipid-laden, 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.[22]

Secretion of vasoactive substances (e.g. renin) may cause arterial hypertension, and release of erythropoietin may cause erythrocytosis (increased production of red blood cells).

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. Traditonally 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. 10% of RCC will contain calcifications, and some contain macroscopic fat (likely due to invasion and encasement of the perirenal fat). Following intravenous contrast administration (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), enhancement will be noted, and will highlight the tumor relative to normal renal parenchyma.[citation needed]

In particular, reliably distinguishing renal cell carcinoma from an oncocytoma (a benign lesion) is not possible using current medical imaging or percutaneous biopsy.[citation needed]

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[23].

At diagnosis, 30% of renal cell carcinoma has spread to that kidney's renal vein, and 5-10% has continued on into the inferior vena cava[24].

Percutaneous biopsy can be performed by a radiologist using ultrasound or computed tomography to guide sampling of the tumor for the purpose of diagnosis. 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.

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.

Watchful waiting

Small renal tumors (< 4 cm) are treated increasingly by way of partial nephrectomy when possible.[25][26][27] Most of these small renal masses manifest indolent biological behavior with excellent prognosis.[28] 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 3-5 cm, beyond which the risk of distant spread (metastases) is about 5%.

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[29], 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.[30][31]

Medications

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 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.[32]

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

A month later, Sunitinib 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. However, these agents have not been directly compared against one another in a single trial. [2][3]

Recently 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 (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 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. [33]

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. The results of this Phase III randomized study were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (www.ASCO.org).

Date of Approval: March 30, 2009 Company: Novartis AG Treatment for: Renal Cell Carcinoma Afinitor (everolimus) is an oral once-daily inhibitor of mTOR indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after failure of treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib. Afinitor approved in US as first treatment for patients with advanced kidney cancer after failure of either sunitinib or sorafenib - March 30, 2009

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.[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.[34] 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.[35]

Prognosis

The five year survival rate is around 90-95% for tumors less than 4 cm. For larger tumors confined to the kidney without venous invasion, survival is still relatively good at 80-85%.[citation needed] For tumors that extend through the renal capsule and out of the local fascial investments, the survivability reduces to near 60%.[citation needed] If it has metastasized to the lymph nodes, the 5-year survival is around 5 % to 15 %. If it has spread metastatically to other organs, the 5-year survival rate is less than 5 %.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

History

Historically, RCC was also known as nephrocellular carcinoma.[36] Paul Grawitz first described renal cell carcinoma in 1883.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Mulders PF, Brouwers AH, Hulsbergen-van der Kaa CA, van Lin EN, Osanto S, de Mulder PH (February 2008). "[Guideline 'Renal cell carcinoma']" (in Dutch; Flemish). Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 152 (7): 376–80. PMID 18380384. 
  2. ^ a b c Rini BI, Rathmell WK, Godley P (May 2008). "Renal cell carcinoma". Curr Opin Oncol 20 (3): 300–6. doi:10.1097/CCO.0b013e3282f9782b (inactive 2009-06-26). PMID 18391630. 
  3. ^ Motzer RJ, Bander NH, Nanus DM (September 1996). "Renal-cell carcinoma". N. Engl. J. Med. 335 (12): 865–75. doi:10.1056/NEJM199609193351207. PMID 8778606. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=short&pmid=8778606&promo=ONFLNS19. 
  4. ^ Reuter VE, Presti JC (April 2000). "Contemporary approach to the classification of renal epithelial tumors". Semin. Oncol. 27 (2): 124–37. PMID 10768592. 
  5. ^ Bodmer D, van den Hurk W, van Groningen JJ, et al. (October 2002). "Understanding familial and non-familial renal cell cancer". Hum. Mol. Genet. 11 (20): 2489–98. doi:10.1093/hmg/11.20.2489. PMID 12351585. http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12351585. 
  6. ^ Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Nelso Fausto; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1016. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1. 
  7. ^ van den Berg E, Storkel S . Kidney: Renal cell carcinoma. Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. June 2003 .
  8. ^ Hagenkord JM, Parwani AV, Lyons-Weiler MA, et al. (2008). "Virtual karyotyping with SNP microarrays reduces uncertainty in the diagnosis of renal epithelial tumors". Diagn Pathol 3: 44. doi:10.1186/1746-1596-3-44. PMID 18990225. 
  9. ^ Monzon FA, Hagenkord JM, Lyons-Weiler MA, et al. (May 2008). "Whole genome SNP arrays as a potential diagnostic tool for the detection of characteristic chromosomal aberrations in renal epithelial tumors". Mod. Pathol. 21 (5): 599–608. doi:10.1038/modpathol.2008.20. PMID 18246049. 
  10. ^ Lyons-Weiler M, Hagenkord J, Sciulli C, Dhir R, Monzon FA (March 2008). "Optimization of the Affymetrix GeneChip Mapping 10K 2.0 Assay for routine clinical use on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues". Diagn. Mol. Pathol. 17 (1): 3–13. doi:10.1097/PDM.0b013e31815aca30. PMID 18303412. 
  11. ^ American Cancer Society. Cancer facts & figures 2007. American Cancer Society; 2007.
  12. ^ Ferlay J, Autier P, Boniol M, Heanue M, Colombet M, Boyle P (March 2007). "Estimates of the cancer incidence and mortality in Europe in 2006". Ann. Oncol. 18 (3): 581–92. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdl498. PMID 17287242. 
  13. ^ Office for National Statistics, Mortality Statistics: Cause England & Wales, 2006. Vol. DH2 No.32. 2006: TSO.
  14. ^ GRO for Scotland Registrar General's Annual Report, 2006.
  15. ^ Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Cancer Mortality in Northern Ireland, 2006. 2006.
  16. ^ Lipworth L, Tarone RE, McLaughlin JK (December 2006). "The epidemiology of renal cell carcinoma". J. Urol. 176 (6 Pt 1): 2353–8. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2006.07.130. PMID 17085101. 
  17. ^ Brennan JF, Stilmant MM, Babayan RK, Siroky MB (April 1991). "Acquired renal cystic disease: implications for the urologist". Br J Urol 67 (4): 342–8. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.1991.tb15158.x. PMID 2032071. 
  18. ^ McLaughlin JK, Kidney Cancer, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006, pp. 1087–1100.
  19. ^ Lamiell JM, Salazar FG, Hsia YE (January 1989). "von Hippel-Lindau disease affecting 43 members of a single kindred". Medicine (Baltimore) 68 (1): 1–29. PMID 2642584. 
  20. ^ Pavlovich CP, Schmidt LS (May 2004). "Searching for the hereditary causes of renal-cell carcinoma". Nat. Rev. Cancer 4 (5): 381–93. doi:10.1038/nrc1364. PMID 15122209. 
  21. ^ Washecka R, Hanna M (April 1991). "Malignant renal tumors in tuberous sclerosis". Urology 37 (4): 340–3. doi:10.1016/0090-4295(91)80261-5. PMID 2014599. 
  22. ^ "pathologyatlas.ro". http://www.pathologyatlas.ro/renal-cell-carcinoma-grawitz-tumor-kidney-pathology.php. Retrieved 2007-12-29. 
  23. ^ Israel GM, Bosniak MA (August 2005). "How I do it: evaluating renal masses". Radiology 236 (2): 441–50. doi:10.1148/radiol.2362040218. PMID 16040900. 
  24. ^ Oto A, Herts BR, Remer EM, Novick AC (December 1998). "Inferior vena cava tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma: staging by MR imaging and impact on surgical treatment". AJR Am J Roentgenol. 171 (6): 1619–24. PMID 9843299. http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=9843299. 
  25. ^ Novick AC (September 1998). "Nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma". Br J Urol 82 (3): 321–4. PMID 9772865. 
  26. ^ Herr HW (January 1999). "Partial nephrectomy for unilateral renal carcinoma and a normal contralateral kidney: 10-year followup". J. Urol. 161 (1): 33–4; discussion 34–5. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(01)62052-4. PMID 10037361. 
  27. ^ Van Poppel H, Bamelis B, Oyen R, Baert L (September 1998). "Partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma can achieve long-term tumor control". J. Urol. 160 (3 Pt 1): 674–8. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(01)62751-4. PMID 9720519. 
  28. ^ Mattar K, Jewett MA (January 2008). "Watchful waiting for small renal masses". Curr Urol Rep 9 (1): 22–5. doi:10.1007/s11934-008-0006-3. PMID 18366970. 
  29. ^ Flanigan RC, Mickisch G, Sylvester R, Tangen C, Van Poppel H, Crawford ED (March 2004). "Cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cancer: a combined analysis". J Urol. 171 (3): 1071–6. doi:10.1097/01.ju.0000110610.61545.ae. PMID 14767273. 
  30. ^ Mogami T, Harada J, Kishimoto K, Sumida S (April 2007). "Percutaneous MR-guided cryoablation for malignancies, with a focus on renal cell carcinoma". Int. J. Clin. Oncol. 12 (2): 79–84. doi:10.1007/s10147-006-0654-6. PMID 17443274. 
  31. ^ Boss A, Clasen S, Kuczyk M, Schick F, Pereira PL (March 2007). "Image-guided radiofrequency ablation of renal cell carcinoma". Eur Radiol 17 (3): 725–33. doi:10.1007/s00330-006-0415-y. PMID 17021704. 
  32. ^ Michaelson MD, Iliopoulos O, McDermott DF, McGovern FJ, Harisinghani MG, Oliva E (May 2008). "Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 17-2008. A 63-year-old man with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma". N Engl J Med. 358 (22): 2389–96. doi:10.1056/NEJMcpc0802449. PMID 18509125. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/22/2389. 
  33. ^ Motzer RJ et al. (2007). "Sunitinib versus interferon alfa in metastatic renal-cell carcinoma". N Engl J Med 356 (2): 115–124. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa065044. PMID 17215529. 
  34. ^ Vaccine for kidney and bowel cancers 'within three years' | Mail Online
  35. ^ Amato RJ (September 2008). "Vaccine therapy for renal cancer". Expert Rev Vaccines 7 (7): 925–35. doi:10.1586/14760584.7.7.925. PMID 18767943. 
  36. ^ Vasil'eva NN (1975). "[Patho-anatomical characteristics of renal cell cancer]" (in Russian). Arkh. Patol. 37 (10): 11–8. PMID 1225265. 
  37. ^ Valladares Ayerbes M, Aparicio Gallego G, Díaz Prado S, Jiménez Fonseca P, García Campelo R, Antón Aparicio LM (November 2008). "Origin of renal cell carcinomas". Clin Transl Oncol 10 (11): 697–712. doi:10.1007/s12094-008-0276-8. PMID 19015066. 

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Medical Encyclopedia. © 2006 through a partnership of Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Oncology Encyclopedia. Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer. Copyright © 2006 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Renal cell carcinoma" Read more