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Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC, formerly known as hypernephroma) is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, one type of very small tubes in the kidney that transports waste molecules from the blood to the urine. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 90-95% of cases.[1] It has been described as one of the deadliest of cancers affecting the genitourinary tract.[2] Initial treatment is most commonly either partial or complete removal of the affected kidney(s) and remains the mainstay of curative treatment.[3] Where the cancer has not metastasised (spread to other organs) or burrowed deeper into the tissues of the kidney the 5-year survival rate is 60-70%, but this is lowered considerably when the cancer has spread. It is relatively resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, although some cases respond to targeted therapies such as sunitinib, temsirolimus, bevacizumab, interferon alfa and sorafenib have improved the outlook for RCC.[4]
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The body is remarkably good at hiding the symptoms and as a result people with RCC often have advanced disease by the time it is discovered.[5] The initial symptoms of RCC often include: blood in the urine (occurring in 40% of affected persons at the time they first seek medical attention), flank pain (40%), a mass in the abdomen or flank (25%), weight loss (33%), fever (20%), high blood pressure (20%), night sweats and generally feeling unwell.[1] RCC is also associated with a number of paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) which are conditions caused by either the hormones produced by the tumour or by the body's attack on the tumour and are present in about 20% of those with RCC.[1] These syndromes most commonly affect tissues which have not been invaded by the cancer.[1] The most common PNSs seen in people with RCC are: anaemia (due to an underproduction of the hormone, erythropoietin), high blood calcium levels, polycythaemia (the opposite to anaemia, due to an overproduction of erythropoietin), thrombocytosis (too many platelets in the blood, leading to an increased tendency for blood clots and bleeds) and secondary amyloidosis.[6] When RCC metastasises it most commonly spreads to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, adrenal glands, brain or bones.[6]