Renal Cancer Stages, Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

In renal cancer, the abnormal growth of cells occurs in the lining of the kidney. As a result, one or both kidneys grow out of control and form a mass of abnormal cells. Kidneys are the vital body organs. Kidneys are involved in PH regulation, osmolarity and excretion of waste materials.  They are also involved in maintaining chemical balance such as sodium, potassium and calcium. It may be either benign or malignant. The malignant renal cancer can spread to other parts of the kidney or body. Smoking increases the risk of renal cancer. That’s why males are at higher risk for developing renal cancer than females. Males are affected twice as commonly as females. It accounts for about 2.2% of all cancer diagnoses. It is also known as kidney cancer.

Stages of renal cancer

There are four stages of renal cancer which are discussed below,

1. Stage I

The tumor can grow up to 7 centimeters in diameter in this stage of renal cancer and is limited to the kidney.

2. Stage II

The size of tumor in stage II is greater than stage I but still confined to kidneys.

3.  Stage III

The tumor spread to the nearby lymph nodes and surrounding tissues in this stage of renal cancer.

4.  Stage IV

The tumor spread outside the kidney such as multiple lymph nodes, bones, liver or lungs.

Causes

The exact cause of renal cancer is unknown. There are certain risk factors that increase the risk for the development of renal cancer are smoking, alcohol, obesity, hypertension, occupation, kidney dialysis and family history. Genetics also play an important role in causing renal cancer.

Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of renal cancer are listed below,

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Pain or a lump in the lower back
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Unexpected weight loss
• Fever
• Pain between hips and ribs
• Palpable abdominal mass
• Anemia (low count of red blood cells)
• Hepatic dysfunction
• Hypercalcemia

Treatment

There are four types of therapies used for the treatment of renal cancer,

• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

Targeted therapy for the treatment of renal cancer focuses on treating specific abnormalities. The most common drugs used in targeted therapy are sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, bevacizumab, axitinib and tivozanib. These drugs act by blocking angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process of making new blood vessels that feed the cancerous cells of kidney tumors. In immunotherapy, your immune system (body’s natural defense) is improved to fight against tumor or cancer. They slow down the growth of abnormal cells and prevent the abnormal cells from entering other parts of the body. The most commonly prescribed immunotherapy drugs are nivolumab and ipilimumab. These drugs are most effective when they are used in combination. Monoclonal antibodies can also be prescribed for the treatment of kidney cancer. It is a type of immunotherapy in which monoclonal antibodies are applied to your skin to stimulate your immune system to kill the cancer cells. They act by improving your immune system response against cancerous cells. They slow down the growth of abnormal cells. The most commonly used monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of renal cancer are alemtuzumab, nivolumab, bevacizumab, cetuximab, pembrolizumab and panitumumab. In radiation therapy, high-powered energy rays such as X-rays are used to kill the cancerous cells. It is very effective in preventing, reducing or controlling the symptoms of renal cancer. It can also be used in combination with other therapies. In chemotherapy, chemotherapeutic drugs or anticancer drugs are administered orally, topically or injected with the help of a needle to kill the cancerous cells. It is not an effective or recommended procedure for the treatment of kidney tumors. The most common drugs used in chemotherapy are cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and gemcitabine.

Surgical Treatment                                          

Surgery is recommended for the treatment of renal cancer. The most common surgical procedures used for the treatment of renal cancer are,

• Robotic partial nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Minimally invasive urologic surgery

In robotic partial nephrectomy, your surgeon makes a small incision to remove a renal tumor. A robot is used that provides a 3-dimensional image about the size and location of a tumor. A dye is used that differentiates the tumor cells from normal cells. This surgery causes less pain and improves recovery. In laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, the entire kidney is removed. It is a minimally invasive surgical technique. In this surgery, the surgeon makes a series of small incisions in the abdominal cavity and a laparoscope is inserted through these incisions. The laparoscope is a wand-like camera that gives the inside view of the abdominal cavity. This surgery causes less postoperative discomfort and complications. In partial nephrectomy, only the tumor is removed. The kidney function is preserved in this type of surgery. Radiofrequency ablation is used for renal cancers that are small in size and have not spread beyond the kidney. It is a minimally invasive non-surgical technique. In this surgery, a needle is inserted through the skin at the site of the tumor. Then high-frequency electrical currents are passed through these needles and heat is generated. This heat destroys the renal tumor. Another recommended procedure for renal cancer is cryoablation or cryotherapy. A small incision is made and a metal probe is inserted through this insertion to freeze the cancer cells. It is a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure.