Health Encyclopedia

Renal cell carcinoma

Definition

Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer in which the cancerous cells are found in the lining of very small tubes (tubules) in the kidney.

Alternative Names

Renal cancer; Kidney cancer; Hypernephroma; Adenocarcinoma of renal cells; Cancer - kidney

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. It occurs most often in people 50 - 70 years old, and typically affects men.

The exact cause is unknown.

Risk factors include:

Dialysis treatment
Family history of the disease
Genetics
Smoking
Von Hippel-Lindau disease (a hereditary disease that affects the capillaries of the brain)

Symptoms

Abdominal pain
Abnormal urine color (dark, rusty, or brown)
Back pain
Blood in the urine
Emaciated, thin, malnourished appearance
Enlargement of one testicle
Flank pain
Swelling or enlargement of the abdomen
Unintentional weight loss of more than 5% of body weight

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

Sometimes both kidneys are involved. The cancer spreads easily, most often to the lungs and other organs. About one-third of patients have spreading (metastasis) at the time of diagnosis.

Signs and tests

Palpation of the abdomen may show a mass or organ enlargement, particularly of the kidney or liver. Men may have a varicocele in the testicles.

Tests include:

The following tests may be performed to see if the cancer has spread:

Treatment

Surgical removal of all or part of the kidney (nephrectomy) is recommended. This may include removing the bladder or surrounding tissues or lymph nodes.

Radiation therapy does not usually work for renal cell carcinoma and, therefore, is not often used. Hormone treatments may reduce the growth of the tumor in some cases.

Many chemotherapy drugs and other medications have been successful in reducing the growth of some renal cell carcinomas, including cancers that have spread. Current therapies such as interferon and interleukin-2 work by blocking the blood supply of the tumor. Some chemotherapy drugs have been used to treat this and other cancers for many years.

A cure is unlikely unless all of the cancer is removed with surgery.

Support Groups

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group whose members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group and kidney disease - support group.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome depends on the degree of cancer spread. The survival rate is highest if the tumor is in the early stages and has not spread outside the kidney. If it has spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs, the survival rate is much lower.

Complications

Hypertension
Spread of the cancer

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider any time you see blood in the urine. Also call if you have any other symptoms of this disorder.

Prevention

Stop smoking. Follow your health care provider's recommendations in the treatment of kidney disorders, especially those that may require dialysis.

References

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Treatment for Advanced Kidney Cancer. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; December 20, 2005. Press Release P05-107.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Kidney Cancer, v.1.2008. 2007.

Review Date:11/12/2007
Reviewed By:Charles Silberberg, D.O., Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with NY Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.