Definition:
Renal cell carcinoma (acronym: RCC) is the most common type of renal or kidney cancer. It starts in the renal tubule and may spread to other parts of the body if undiagnosed early.
Diagnosis:
Because renal cell carcinoma is asymptomatic during its early stages, it can be quite difficult to diagnosis until the disease has advanced to such a degree that treatment becomes useless. Currently, there is no specific blood test for a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. However, family history of the disease plays a major factor in diagnosis. Individuals with multiple family members affected with the disease should be monitored closely. In most cases, renal cell carcinoma is detected accidentally when radiology is done for other vague symptoms.
Treatment:
In advanced stages, renal cell carcinoma is notoriously resistant to such standard interventions as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, some cases have been known to respond to immunotherapy. Recent techniques which have some proven efficacy include sunitinib, a form of targeted cancer therapy. If renal cell carcinoma is detected early, 80% to 95% of patients may be treated successfully.
Symptoms and Signs:
Renal cell carcinomas can grow in size without causing any visible symptoms. Typically, renal cell carcinomas present with blood in the urine. Other common symptoms include persistent lower back pain, fatigue, abdominal mass, weight loss, fever unrelated to infection, and a distinct swelling of the legs. Frequently, however, these symptoms are mistakenly attributed to other conditions.
Causes:
To date, no specific cause for renal cell carcinoma is known. However, some risk factors have been identified – including smoking, obesity, and exposure to certain chemicals such as asbestos and cadmium. A history of renal cell carcinoma in the family may also predispose an individual to the disease. Additionally, patients with tuberous sclerosis or von Hippel-Lindau syndrome have greater risk of developing renal cell carcinoma.
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