This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Bertram Yuh, MD, MISM, MSHCPM, Urologic Surgeon, City of Hope | Duarte.
This page was updated on June 2, 2023.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs on either side of the waist—closer to the back of the body than the front—and responsible for filtering waste from the blood and producing urine, which collects in the renal pelvis, an area toward the middle of each kidney.
From the renal pelvis, urine is carried out of the kidneys via a long tube (called a ureter) to the bladder, then exits the body through the urethra. The lining of the renal pelvis is made up of transitional cells that are able to bend and stretch without breaking.
When cancer grows in these pliable cells, it’s called transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). When this type of cancer develops in the renal pelvis and/or the ureter, it’s called renal transitional cell carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society, about 5 percent to 10 percent of all kidney cancers are TCCs, also referred to as urothelial carcinomas.
Although risk factors may increase the chance of developing cancer, they don’t guarantee someone will get it.
Renal transitional cell carcinoma risk factors include:
Although renal transitional cell carcinoma may not cause early symptoms, as the cancerous tumor grows, patients may experience the following:
To diagnose renal transitional cell cancer:
Other tests may include:
Additional tests may be conducted to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the renal pelvis.
Cancer only located in the kidney is described as localized. If it’s spread to surrounding tissues, lymph nodes and blood vessels, it’s described as regional. Metastatic renal transitional cell carcinoma has spread to other areas of the body.
If the patient has been treated successfully but the cancer returns, it’s described as recurrent.
TCC is given a stage 0 through 4, based on the cancer’s size and location.
The most common form of treatment for renal transitional cell carcinoma is surgery, including procedures such as:
Other types of treatment are still being studied and used in clinical trials. These include:
Patients may also consider asking their care team whether a clinical trial may be the right approach for them.