Cancerous tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter (2024)

FAQs

Cancerous tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter? ›

Cancerous tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter

The most frequently observed tumor is urothelial carcinoma, which accounts for 90% of all renal pelvis and ureter tumors (1). The other tumors observed tend to be squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or leiomyosarcoma (1).

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: This accounts for around 5% of cases. Of these three types, clear cell carcinoma has the worst prognosis, and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma the best, with only 7% of cases going on to affect more distant parts of the body.

Ureter Cancer usually affects men more often than women and is more common in people older than 65. The 5-year survival rate is 5% or less. If the cancer is inoperable or unresectable, treatment with radiation and/or chemotherapy may be utilized for palliation, but the prognosis is poor.

When this happens, cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter usually grows and spreads faster (it is aggressive). It is then more likely to be diagnosed when it's advanced. Squamous cells, gland cells and small cells are most commonly found mixed with urothelial cancer cells.

“Low grades of kidney cancer tend to be slow-growing, while high grades can multiply fast. The other types that are found to be more aggressive are papillary (types 1 & 2), chromophobe, medullary and oncocytic.”

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma (HLRCC) is considered one of the most aggressive forms of kidney cancer. A key characteristic of this cancer is the lack of an enzyme called fumarate hydratase (FH).

How fast kidney cancer spreads is widely variable. Some studies suggest an average growth rates of 0.3 centimeters (cm) per year, but findings vary widely. The grade of the cancer, the person's age and other factors can play a role .

MEDULLARY RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

Besides being rare, it is an extremely aggressive tumor, originating in the distal nephrons, from the collecting duct cells. A remarkable feature of this histological tumor subtype is its association with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait.

Where does cancer of the ureter spread to? ›

The tumour has grown into nearby organs or through the kidney to the surrounding fat. The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body (called distant metastasis), such as to the lungs, liver or bone. This is also called metastatic renal pelvis and ureter cancer.

Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and relatlimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving nivolumab and relatlimab may help control the disease in patients with urothelial cancer or solid tumors.

Segmental ureterectomy resection: If the tumor is small and localized, it is possible to remove only the part of the ureter that contains cancer cells.

Low-grade UTUC is less aggressive. It is less likely to invade deeper into the kidney or to spread to other parts of the body. High-grade UTUC is more likely to invade the kidney itself or other organs. It is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

If bladder cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 39.2%. If it has spread to a distant site, the 5-year survival rate is 8.3%.

A radical nephroureterectomy is the most common surgery done for cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter. The surgeon removes the entire kidney, all of the ureter and the tissue where the ureter connects to the bladder (called the bladder cuff).

Disease Overview. Urothelial cell (UC) cancers of the renal pelvis and ureter are relatively rare (approximately 2 per 100,000 people) and make up approximately 5% of transitional cell cancers in the urinary tract.

In general, lower-stage and lower-grade cancers have a better prognosis than high-stage and high-grade cancers. It's helpful to get an early diagnosis of transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter because the disease is highly curable when it's treated before it spreads.

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma (HLRCC) is considered one of the most aggressive forms of kidney cancer. A key characteristic of this cancer is the lack of an enzyme called fumarate hydratase (FH).