Kidney Cancer Facts

Renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for 85 percent of kidney tumors, arises in the lining of the tiny tubules inside the kidney that filter the blood and make urine.

There are four types of renal cell kidney cancer: Renal cell carcinoma, Transitional cell carcinoma, Sarcoma, and Wilms tumor.

Doctors look to the cell type to decide on the best course of treatment. 

• Clear cell is the most common form of renal cell cancer. They can be slow growing (grade 1) up to fast growing (grade 4). Immunotherapy and biologic agents are most effective for this type.
• Papillary kidney cancer comes in two different types and is treated differently than clear cell.
• Sarcomatoid is fast-growing and resembles sarcoma under the microscope.
• Collecting duct is rare and responds favorably to chemotherapy.
• Chromophobe is also rare.
• Oncocytoma is slow-growing and rarely spreads
• Angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor that can be removed surgically

Symptoms, Diagnosis & Risk Factors

Symptoms, diagnosis, and risk factors for kidney cancer

Stages

Information about the stages of kidney cancer