Kidney

The kidneys are a pair of 4 or 5 inch long bean-shaped organs located in the back of the abdomen, on either side of the spine. The function of the kidneys is to filter the blood, remove wastes, control fluid balance, regulate electrolytes and make urine.

Kidney Cancer, also called Renal Cancer, is a disease where kidney cells become malignant, grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. Most kidney cancers start in the lining of very small tubules in the kidney. These renal cell carcinomas account for 90% of kidney cancer. Kidney cancer occurs most often in people age 55 or older, and is slightly more common in men.

Renal cell carcinoma usually grows as a single mass within a kidney. In rare cases, there are two or more tumors in one kidney, or tumors in both kidneys. Renal cell carcinomas are usually fast growing and can spread to the lungs and surrounding organs.

There are three main types of adult kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma and renal sarcoma, which may require a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy/biologic therapy, and/or targeted therapy.

Renal cell carcinoma: renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for about 90% of kidney cancers, and arises from the lining of the small tubules of the kidney.

Subtypes and treatments of Renal Cell Carcinoma include:

• Clear cell RCC: the most common form of kidney cancer (65-75% of cases). Clear cell RCC is associated with Hippel-Lindau gene mutation in hereditary kidney cancer. Clear cell RCC can be slow-growing or fast growing. Treatments usually include surgery for early stage and immunotherapies for later stages.
• Papillary kidney cancer: is the second most common type of kidney cancer (10-15% of cases). Papillary kidney cancer is divided into Type I and Type II subtypes based on cell appearance, and is associated with Heriditary Papillary RCC and Hereditary Leiomyomatosis syndrome. Surgical removal is performed in early stages, chemotherapy and immunotherapy is used for cancer that has spread.
• Collecting duct carcinoma: is a rare form of RCC and is usually treated with chemotherapy.
• Medullary RCC: is a rare and aggressive type of kidney cancer that is associated with the sickle cell trait. Chemotherapy is usually the treatment for medullary RCC.
• Chromophobe RCC: is a rare form (5%) of kidney cancer which is sometimes associated with a specific gene mutation called Birt Hogg Dube syndrome.
• Unclassified renal cell carcinomas: are RCCs that contains more that one type of cell type and are usually characterized as aggressive cancers.

Transitional cell carcinoma: account for 5-10% of kidney cancers, and originates in the renal pelvis. If the cancer has not spread, surgical removal of the kidney and ureter is usually the treatment plan. If the tumor has metastasized, treatment options are similar to metastatic bladder cancer, which includes chemotherapy.

Renal carcinoma: is a very rare form (1%) of kidney cancer, which is treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

American Cancer Society Clinical Trials
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/featured/types/kidney-cancer

Clinical Trials.gov
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?term=kidney+cancer

Renal and Urology News
http://www.renalandurologynews.com/renal-cell-carcinoma-clinical-trials/section/775/

Center Watch
https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/condition/33/kidney-cancer

Kidney Cancer.org Clinical Trials Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/cancertrials

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-new-research

American Cancer Society: What’s New in Kidney Cancer Research
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-new-research

Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120729205034.htm

Cancer.net
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/kidney-cancer/additional-resources

Kidney Cancer Canada Additional Resources for Kidney Cancer
http://www.kidneycancercanada.ca/for-patients-and-caregivers/additional-resources/

Targeted Therapy Proves Its Worth in Metastatic Kidney Cancer Patients
July 11, 2019
https://www.cancernetwork.com/renal-cell-carcinoma/targeted-therapy-proves-its-worth-metastatic-kidney-cancer-patients?rememberme=1&elq_mid=7747&elq_cid=31005&GUID=D05BB403-D400-4F32-A398-FE2D4019831F

73% of Kidney Cancer Patients Respond to Inlyta-Keytruda Combo, Trial Shows
February, 2018
https://immuno-oncologynews.com/2018/02/16/inlyta-keytruda-combo-kidney-cancer-phase-1b-trial/

GU Cancer Symposium 2018
Tecentriq-Avastin Combo In Advanced Kidney Cancer
February, 2018
https://immuno-oncologynews.com/2018/02/12/tecentriq-avastin-combination-roche-genetech-reduces-risk-disease-worsening-advanced-kidney-cancer-phase-3-trial/

Sunitinib or Everolimus First-Line for Kidney Cancer
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Medscape
July 24, 2014
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/828815

Enzyme may halt tumor growth in kidney cancer
Medical News Today
July 22, 2014
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279929.php

Expanding the playing Field: Immune-Based Therapy Shows Potential
NCI Cancer Bulletin
June, 2012
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2012/PD-1-immunotherapy0612

CLEAR Study Readout Shows Survival Enhancement With Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab Versus Sunitinib in Frontline RCC
Cancer Network
February, 2021
https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/clear-study-readout-shows-survival-enhancement-with-lenvatinib-combinations-versus-sunitinib-in-frontline-rcc

FDA Approves Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab for the Treatment of Advanced HCC
https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/fda-approves-nivolumab-plus-ipilimumab-treatment-advanced-hcc

Kidney Cancer Association Support Groups
http://www.kidneycancer.org/

Daily Strength Kidney cancer Support Group
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Renal-Cell-Carcinoma-Kidney-Cancer/support-group

Cancer Care Kidney cancer Support Group
http://www.cancercare.org/diagnosis/kidney_cancer

Association of Cancer Online Resources
http://www.acor.org/

National Kidney Foundation Support Groups
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneycancer

Imerman Angels (to connect directly with another survivor or caregiver through an organization that creates personal, one-on-one connections among patients, survivors, and caregivers)
http://www.imermanangels.org

Fighting Chance (free counseling service for cancer patients and caregivers).
http://fightingchance.org/resourceGuide.shtml