How does renal cell carcinoma differ from other types of kidney cancer?

Renal cell carcinoma is the most prevalent form of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for approximately 90 percent of all cases. While the term "renal carcinoma" is often used interchangeably with renal cell carcinoma—and was historically referred to as a hypernephroma—it specifically denotes a malignancy arising from the epithelial cells of the kidney.12

Unlike many other types of cancer, renal cell carcinoma is notably resistant to standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Because of this resistance, surgical intervention, such as a nephrectomy, remains the primary and most effective treatment. While other malignancies may respond to conventional systemic therapies, renal cell carcinoma is often managed with targeted therapies or biological treatments that engage the immune system.1

Furthermore, renal cell carcinoma is distinct in its clinical presentation and progression. It is frequently associated with specific genetic factors, such as mutations in chromosome 3, and is linked to environmental risks like smoking and exposure to cadmium or asbestos. Because symptoms often remain absent until the disease reaches an advanced stage, it is frequently diagnosed only after it has metastasized to other organs.13