What is ALK-Rearranged Renal Cell Carcinoma?
ALK-Rearranged Renal Cell Carcinoma is a very rare type of kidney cancer. It happens because of a change in a gene called ALK. Genes normally control how our cells grow, but when this gene changes abnormally, kidney cells start growing out of control and form a cancer. This cancer is different from common kidney cancers and needs special tests to be identified.
Incidence
This cancer can affect children, teenagers, and adults, but it is more often seen in younger people than usual kidney cancer. Sometimes it is found in people who have sickle cell trait, but it can also occur in people who do not have this condition.
Symptoms
The symptoms are similar to other kidney problems. A person may notice blood in the urine, pain in the side or lower back, or a swelling in the abdomen. Some people feel very tired, lose weight without trying, or have a fever. In some cases, there are no clear symptoms, and the tumour is found by chance during a scan done for another reason.
Diagnosis
To diagnose this cancer, doctors first do scans like ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to see a lump in the kidney. However, scans alone cannot tell the exact type. A small tissue sample is taken and examined under a microscope. Special lab tests are then done to check for the ALK gene change. These tests are very important because the treatment depends on this finding.
Treatment
The main treatment is surgery to remove the affected part of the kidney or the whole kidney if needed. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, usual cancer medicines may not work well. In such cases, special targeted medicines are used. These medicines block the abnormal ALK gene and can slow down or control the cancer.
Prognosis
The outcome depends on how early the cancer is found. If detected early, many patients do well after surgery. If it is found late and has spread, it can be more serious, but targeted treatment has improved results in some patients.
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