Kidney cancer – Renal-cell carcinoma

Description of kidney cancer

Kidney cancer is a disease, in which cancer cells develop in the kidneys. Почки – два бобовидных органа, located just above the waist, on both sides of the spine. Their main function is to filter blood and produce urine, with their help, the body gets rid of toxins and excess water.

Cancer occurs, when the cells of the organism (in this case kidney cells) begin randomly divided. The result is a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

There are two main types of kidney cancer: Wilms' tumor, which occurs predominantly in children, and renal cell carcinoma in adults. The cells, cancer cells lining the ureters can also arise, and sarcoma can occur in the connective tissue of the kidneys (rarely).

Causes of kidney cancer

The cause of kidney cancer is unknown.

Risk factors for kidney cancer

Factors, which increase the risk of kidney cancer:

• Smoking;
• Family history of some hereditary forms of kidney cancer;
• Age: 50 and older;
• Paul: male;
• Some occupational exposures (eg, contact with asbestos and aniline) and work in leather production;
• Exposure to certain toxins;
• Balkan jade;
• Chronic kidney stones;
• Phenacetin abuse;
• Клубневый склероз – это наследственное заболевание, which causes tumors in various organs, including renal angiomyolipomas, benign tumors;
• Dialysis;
• Фон Хиппель-Линдау синдром – синдром, associated with many types of cancer.

Symptoms of kidney cancer

Symptoms include:

• Blood in the urine;
• Unexplained lower back pain or pain elsewhere;
• Shortness of breath or cough;
• Feeling of a lump in the stomach;
• Elevated blood pressure;
• Unplanned, significant weight loss;
• Unexplained fever;
• Swelling of ankles, leg and/or life.

Diagnosis of kidney cancer

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.

Tests may include:

• Анализы крови и мочи – для проверки функции почек или поиска веществ, which indicate the presence of kidney cancer;
• Сканирование костей – используется специальный радиоактивный материал, which accumulates in the bones, in place of, where is the active process taking place?, such as tumor growth. Kidney cancer often spreads to the bones. This test is often performed, to make sure, that the cancer has not spread to the bones;
• Рентгенография грудной клетки и рентген живота – тесты, that use x-rays, to take pictures of organs inside the body;
• Внутривенная пиелограмма – рентген почек и мочеточников после введения контрастного красителя в кровоток;
• Почечная ангиография – рентген артерий, which lead to a possible kidney tumor;
• Компьютерная томография – вид рентгена, which uses computer, to take pictures of the kidneys and surrounding organs;
• МРТ – тест, which uses magnetic waves, to take pictures of the kidneys and surrounding organs;
• УЗИ почек – тест, which uses sound waves to study the renal;
• Лапароскопия – тонкая трубку вводится через небольшой разрез в брюшной полости, to have your kidney examined;
• Цистоскопия – осмотр мочевого пузыря, ureters and kidneys through a thin tube, which is inserted through the urethra;
• Биопсия почки – удаление образца ткани почки для проверки на наличие раковых клеток.

Kidney cancer treatment

After kidney cancer is detected, an examination is carried out, allowing to determine the extent and scope of cancer. The treatment method depends on the stage of cancer.

Surgery is the most important component of kidney cancer treatment. There is some information, indicating the effectiveness of immunotherapy (interleukin or interferon). Radiation may be used to treat kidney cancer, which has spread to the lungs, bones or brain, but this procedure is not considered effective enough.

Surgery for kidney cancer

The procedure involves removing the cancerous tumor, and surrounding tissues, perhaps, neighboring lymph nodes. Surgeries to treat kidney cancer include:

• Радикальная нефрэктомия – удаление всей почки, adrenal, adjacent adipose tissue and lymph nodes;
• Частичная нефрэктомия – удаление только раковой части почки. Used to treat small tumors, which have not spread to other organs;
• Удаление метастазов – удаление раковой ткани, which has spread to other parts of the body.

Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy)

The procedure involves the use of radiation, to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Применяется внешняя лучевая терапия – излучение направляется на опухоль из источников за пределами тела.

Chemotherapy for kidney cancer

Химиотерапия – использование лекарственных препаратов для уничтожения раковых клеток. Preparations for the chemotherapy may be given in various forms: tablets, injection, the introduction of a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, killing mostly cancer, and also some healthy cells.

Immunotherapy for kidney cancer

The procedure includes the use of onions, such as interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha, to help the immune system fight and destroy cancer cells.

Targeted therapy for kidney cancer

Targeted therapy involves the use of drugs, called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The most commonly used drug is sunitinib. (Sutent) and sorafenib (Nexavar). These drugs improve survival rates in kidney cancer patients. Another class of drugs, called selective mTOR inhibitors (targets of rapamycin in mammals) may also help people with kidney cancer. An example of this type of medication is temsirolimus.

Taking medications for kidney cancer

Preparations, which may be prescribed for adults with advanced kidney cancer:

• Everolimus (Zortress);
• Pazopanib (Votrient).

Prevention of kidney cancer

Measures to prevent kidney cancer are quite limited:

• Avoid using tobacco products;
• Avoid exposure to hazardous substances at work.

See your doctor at the first sign of possible symptoms, since early detection of kidney cancer is a key factor in successful treatment.