Transitional Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer): Treatment & Prognosis

A transitional cell, or urothelial, carcinoma is a form of kidney cancer. This type of cancer originates in the renal pelvis, where a kidney attaches to a ureter. It is similar to bladder cancer.

Prognosis

• About 90 percent of transitional cell carcinomas are curable if they are found early, according to the American Cancer Society. The likelihood of successful cancer treatment decreases if a tumor grows into a main area of a kidney or a wall of a ureter.

Kidney

• A surgeon may treat a transitional cell carcinoma by removing an entire kidney.

Ureter

• A patient with a transitional cell carcinoma that affects the ureter may have to have the entire ureter surgically removed.

Bladder

• Areas of the bladder that link to a ureter may be removed during transitional cell carcinoma surgery.

Chemotherapy

• Patients may receive chemotherapy after transitional cell carcinoma surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells that were not removed.

Prevalence

• According to the American Cancer Society, about 5 to 10 percent of all kidney cancers are transitional cell carcinomas. Cigarette smokers and those exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in the workplace have an increased risk of developing transitional cell carcinomas.