Kidney Cancer

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a malignant cell growth that occurs in the kidneys and accounts for about 3% of all cancer diagnoses worldwide. Its medical name is renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

"Kidney cancer" is a general term, as there are many variants of kidney tumors and different stages of the disease. Its treatment will depend on the specific characteristics of the tumor.

In recent years, thanks to imaging tests such as ultrasound of the urinary tract and CT scans, the number of early stage diagnoses has increased, leading to higher survival rates. Likewise, survival rates for renal cancer have also increased, partly due to improved treatments both in the early stages (surgery) and in more advanced stages (targeted systemic treatments). Nephron-sparing surgery (or partial nephrectomy) allows only the tumor to be removed, preserving most of the organ and providing the patient with a better quality of life in the long term. We can affirm that more than 90-95% of patients will be cured with surgery alone when the tumor is diagnosed at a localized stage.

In terms of epidemiology, renal cancer is more common in men than in women and most people are diagnosed between the ages of 60 and 70.

At ROC Clinic we have all the technology available in the market to treat kidney cancer such as the Da Vinci robot, laparoscopy and ablative treatments, among others.

What are kidneys and what are they for?

The kidneys are two organs of the urinary system that are bean-shaped and about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage (ribs), on either side of the spine.

These organs are essential for life and are mainly responsible for eliminating excess water, salt and waste substances through urine. The kidney filters the blood that reaches it through the renal artery and, once filtered, returns to the bloodstream through the renal vein. The result of filtration is urine, which accumulates in the center of each kidney, in an area called the renal pelvis, and from there flows into the bladder - where it is stored - through ducts called ureters.

They also have other important functions, such as regulating the balance of the body's internal environment (homeostasis) and manufacturing hormones such as erythropoietin, which regulates the production of red blood cells, and renin, which regulates blood pressure.

Types of malignant kidney tumors

There are several types of malignant renal tumors which, as a whole, are known as renal cell cancer. The most common are clear cell tumor (70-80%), followed by papillary tumor (10-15%) and chromophobe tumor (3-5%). The subtype of cell carcinoma will determine, among other factors, which treatment to employ.

• Clear cell renal tumor. When examined in the laboratory, these cells appear very pale or clear due to a high glycogen and lipid content, presenting a nested growth pattern. It arises from proximal tubular epithelial cells in the renal cortex.
• Papillary cell kidney tumor. These cancer cells form small finger-like projections called papillae in some part or most of the tumor. These cells absorb certain dyes and appear pink when viewed under a microscope.
• Chromophobe cell renal tumor. The cells of these cancers are also pale, but are larger and have different characteristics. It originates in the intercalated cells of the distal tubular epithelium and manifests macroscopically as a solid, well-defined, multilobulated tumor. It is a tumor of variable biological behavior, less aggressive than conventional clear cell carcinoma.