Know more about the cancer of the renal organ

Metastatic renal cell cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting the kidneys among adults. It is also called renal cell carcinoma; it is asymptomatic and is found during imaging. The symptoms which occur in just 20% of the patients include flank pain, macroscopic hematuria, and abdominal mass.

The reasons for this type of cancer can be genetic and environmental.

It is the 14th common cancer cause and is accountable for 2/3 % of the new cancer cases. In a population of a 100,000 over 15 cases exist. Males show a higher percentage than females. The incidence of this disease is 15 fold more in Europe, Australia, and North America in comparison to Africa and Asia.

This type of cancer is also common post kidney transplant among native transplant recipients is a hundredfold more than patients who are on dialysis. There is also a strong connection between dialysis before transplant and developing renal cell carcinoma after transplant.

Metastatic renal cell cancer sufferers show a poor response to treatment and the population barely crosses the age of 64. The disease increases with the increasing age.

The risk increases with the increase in body mass with every 5kg there is a risk of 24% to 34% that is males and females respectively. It is the same with exposure to tobacco which 50% to 20%, males and females respectively.

Several gene mutations have been identified with the help of immunobiology. It recognizes the abnormality of the gene called Von Hippel Lindau-VHL which remains inactive. This gene is the tumor suppressor gene. Those individuals having a family disposition towards VHL are likely to develop Metastatic renal cell cancer at a younger age. This gene is usually inherited; it reduces the normal function of the proteins. Many gene mutations have been identified for various subtypes of renal cell carcinoma while VHL is restricted to clear renal cell carcinoma.

There are various types of metastatic renal cell cancer the most common being the clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and it accounts for 80% of the cases. The papillary cell renal cell carcinoma is the predominant type of cancer found in kidney transplant receivers.

Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma is uncommon, only 5% of the population will suffer from it.

Risk factors for metastatic renal cell cancer are inhaled smoke from tobacco; the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked every day. If the BMI or body mass index is high and there is elevated blood pressure, it increases the risk of renal cell carcinoma in the long run in men. As the blood pressure reduces, it reduces the risk of renal cell carcinoma. These three factors make up the reason for 49% of the cases.

Other factors that increase the risk of metastatic renal cell cancer are exposure to analgesic drugs, asbestos, thiazide, trichloroethylene, etc. renal cell carcinoma is also found among those regularly suffer from hepatitis C infection. They face an end-stage kidney failure. Tuberous Sclerosis, and acquired renal cystic disease.

A family history of renal cell carcinoma leads to a greater chance of developing cancer during your lifetime, me. A study of various families has led to identifying six types of renal cell carcinoma VHL, hereditary leiomyomatosis, papillary renal carcinoma, Birt-Hogg Dube syndrome, succinate dehydrogenase, tuberous sclerosis complex.

Renal Cell Carcinoma is mixed types of tumors that have metabolic and genetic defects. They also have clinical and histopathological features.

• Treatment for a localized disease where there are small tumors is partial nephrectomy.
• Radical nephrectomy is used for large tumors.
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy is used for a few patients with metastatic renal cell cancer.
• Immunotherapy is used for patients that have been given a good prognosis.
• Medicines used are inhibitors of VEGF and mTOR, as effective options for patients.

Diagnosis of the disease is made by making a physical examination, medical history, and laboratory investigations. The investigations include blood cell, checking the serum creatinine level, serum calcium level, lactate dehydrogenase and liver function. Doing a urine analysis and ion making coagulation profile, CT scans for the pelvis and abdomen and a chest image.

An MRI or Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging will evaluate the extension of the tumor in the inferior vena cava. A brain scan cannot always be done, and a PET cannot be used to diagnose renal cancer, and needle biopsy cannot be used for patients with large renal mass, but it is valuable for patients with small renal mass.

Different diagnosis is required for a patient with urothelial carcinoma. The disease and its severity are drawn with the help of image studies. Over half the Renal cell carcinoma patients suffer from a localized disease, 25% suffer from an advanced stage of this disease and between 25 to 30% suffer from the metastatic renal cell cancer.