Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Types of Kidney Cancer

The cancer formed in the tissues of kidney is renal cancer. It has many types but the two are most common of all:
  1. Renal cell carcinoma
  2. Transitional cell carcinoma

1. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
There are tiny tubes inside kidneys, known as proximal convoluted tubules that do the work of blood filtration to remove waste matter in it. This cancer forms in the lining of that tubule. Among the adults, RCC is the most common type, comprising about 80% of all affected renal cancer patients. Not only is the occurrence of this disease higher, it is also the most lethal type among all genitourinary tumors.


Symptoms: These are:
  • Abnormal urine color
  • Abdominal mass
  • Polycythemia
  • Lain pain
  • Anemia
  • Anorexia that results in weight loss

What’s the treatment: RCC is treated through nephrectomy in initial stages. Targeted therapies that are sunitinib, temsirolimus, interferon-alpha, bevacizumab and sorafebib are used but not with a hundred percent result.

2. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)
It usually is found in urinary system, the kidney, gall bladder and related organs. It is the second most common type of renal cancer and is found in the transitional epithelium, a tissue lining in the inner surface of organs that comprise urinary system.

Its symptoms depend upon the location and the severity of the cancer.

Causes: It can occur due to:
  • Drugs such as cyclophosphamide, phenacetin
  • Analgesics used on long-term basis
  • Exposure to radiations
  • Excessive smoking
  • Somatic mutation
  • Aniline dyes & naphtylamines

Treatment: It is really hard to treat Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In a case when the tumor is not at advanced stage, it is surgically removed but usually reoccurs. Chemotherapy consisting of the MVAC regimen (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) is used. It is also treated with infusions of BCG into the bladder.

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