what are the types of kidney cancer ?
Renal cell cancer (RCC):
The two most common types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the renal pelvis. These names reflect the type of cell from which the cancer developed.
Renal cell cancer is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. More than 8 in every 10 (80%) Renal cell cancer is also called renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma. In renal cell cancer the cancerous cells start in the lining of the tubules (the smallest tubes inside the nephrons) that help filter the blood and make urine.
There are several types of renal cell cancer. They can be identified by looking at the cancer cells under a microscope. The main ones are:
Clear cell cancer is the most common type of renal cell cancer. The others are much less common. Often kidney cancers contain more than one of these cell types. If a kidney cancer is a sarcomatoid type it may have a worse outlook than non sarcomatous kidney cancers.
The two most common types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the renal pelvis. These names reflect the type of cell from which the cancer developed.
Renal cell cancer is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. More than 8 in every 10 (80%) Renal cell cancer is also called renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma. In renal cell cancer the cancerous cells start in the lining of the tubules (the smallest tubes inside the nephrons) that help filter the blood and make urine.
There are several types of renal cell cancer. They can be identified by looking at the cancer cells under a microscope. The main ones are:
- Clear cell
- Papillary (Types 1 and 2)
- Chromophobe
- Oncocytic
- Collecting duct
Clear cell cancer is the most common type of renal cell cancer. The others are much less common. Often kidney cancers contain more than one of these cell types. If a kidney cancer is a sarcomatoid type it may have a worse outlook than non sarcomatous kidney cancers.
Clear Cell Papillary Oncocytoma Chromophobe
The subtypes of RCC come from the description of the cell’s appearance and other characteristics.They include:
Clear Cell (conventional) RCC: This is the most common form of kidney cancer and represents between 66% and 75% of all cases. Clear cell RCC is the cell type associated with the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene mutation in hereditary kidney cancer. In fact, approximately 70% of non-hereditary cases of clear cell RCC also have aVHL mutation.
Papillary RCC: This is the second most common form of kidney cancer, making up approximately 15% of cases. Papillary RCC itself is divided into two subtypes based on cell appearance: Type I (5%) and Type II (10%). There are also hereditary forms of both Type I and Type II papillary RCC. When papillary RCC has not spread, surgical removal is usually associated with an excellent prognosis. However, when papillary RCC metastasizes to other locations in the body, most conventional therapies for RCC, such as immunotherapy are ineffective.
Chromophobe RCC: This rare form of kidney cancer represents approximately 5% of RCC cases. This type of RCC is thought to originate from the same cell type as those that form renal oncocytomas (see below). Hybrid tumors that contain features of both chromophobe RCC and renal oncocytoma have also been diagnosed. There is a familial or inherited form of chromophobe RCC (in association with renal oncocytoma) called Birt Hogg Dubé syndrome.
Renal Oncocytoma: This is a benign tumor of the kidney that makes up approximately 5% of all kidney tumors. These tumors do not metastasize, although they can grow to a large size in the kidney and invade local structures, which can result in symptoms requiring surgery. They are thought to be related to chromophobe RCC, and it can be quite difficult to differentiate the two. The tumor is treated by a partial or complete removal of the kidney.
Unclassified RCC: Less than 1% of renal cell carcinomas are an unclassified type and are very rare. They don’t fit into one of the more common subtypes of RCC listed above. When examined under a microscope, these unclassified cancer cells have a structure and genetic features that don’t match the description of the more common RCC subtypes. This category usually includes aggressive tumors that do not respond to traditional therapy for RCC.
Collecting Duct Carcinoma: This is a rare and very aggressive variant of kidney cancer that represents less than 1% of cases. This form of RCC is usually metastatic at the time of diagnosis, and is more common in younger individuals. Treatment has been directed at using chemotherapy-based regimens.
Medullary RCC: This is also a very rare and aggressive variant of kidney cancer, thought to be a variant of collecting duct carcinoma.
Clear Cell (conventional) RCC: This is the most common form of kidney cancer and represents between 66% and 75% of all cases. Clear cell RCC is the cell type associated with the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene mutation in hereditary kidney cancer. In fact, approximately 70% of non-hereditary cases of clear cell RCC also have aVHL mutation.
Papillary RCC: This is the second most common form of kidney cancer, making up approximately 15% of cases. Papillary RCC itself is divided into two subtypes based on cell appearance: Type I (5%) and Type II (10%). There are also hereditary forms of both Type I and Type II papillary RCC. When papillary RCC has not spread, surgical removal is usually associated with an excellent prognosis. However, when papillary RCC metastasizes to other locations in the body, most conventional therapies for RCC, such as immunotherapy are ineffective.
Chromophobe RCC: This rare form of kidney cancer represents approximately 5% of RCC cases. This type of RCC is thought to originate from the same cell type as those that form renal oncocytomas (see below). Hybrid tumors that contain features of both chromophobe RCC and renal oncocytoma have also been diagnosed. There is a familial or inherited form of chromophobe RCC (in association with renal oncocytoma) called Birt Hogg Dubé syndrome.
Renal Oncocytoma: This is a benign tumor of the kidney that makes up approximately 5% of all kidney tumors. These tumors do not metastasize, although they can grow to a large size in the kidney and invade local structures, which can result in symptoms requiring surgery. They are thought to be related to chromophobe RCC, and it can be quite difficult to differentiate the two. The tumor is treated by a partial or complete removal of the kidney.
Unclassified RCC: Less than 1% of renal cell carcinomas are an unclassified type and are very rare. They don’t fit into one of the more common subtypes of RCC listed above. When examined under a microscope, these unclassified cancer cells have a structure and genetic features that don’t match the description of the more common RCC subtypes. This category usually includes aggressive tumors that do not respond to traditional therapy for RCC.
Collecting Duct Carcinoma: This is a rare and very aggressive variant of kidney cancer that represents less than 1% of cases. This form of RCC is usually metastatic at the time of diagnosis, and is more common in younger individuals. Treatment has been directed at using chemotherapy-based regimens.
Medullary RCC: This is also a very rare and aggressive variant of kidney cancer, thought to be a variant of collecting duct carcinoma.
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Other types of kidney cancer:
Another type of kidney cancer is called transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the renal pelvis. The renal pelvis is the central area of the kidney where urine collects before it goes down the ureter to the bladder.
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) :
Transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney is a rare and potentially very aggressive tumor that should not be considered a true kidney cancer, but instead should be grouped with those cancers that develop from cells that line the urinary tract. This includes TCC of the urinary bladder, which is far more common than TCC of the kidney.
A type of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumour can affect children. This is different from kidney cancer in adults.
Another type of kidney cancer is called transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the renal pelvis. The renal pelvis is the central area of the kidney where urine collects before it goes down the ureter to the bladder.
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) :
Transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney is a rare and potentially very aggressive tumor that should not be considered a true kidney cancer, but instead should be grouped with those cancers that develop from cells that line the urinary tract. This includes TCC of the urinary bladder, which is far more common than TCC of the kidney.
A type of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumour can affect children. This is different from kidney cancer in adults.