Renal cell carcinoma, part 2.

ABSTRACT: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for most renal malignancies. This article, the second in a three-part series, addresses how renal masses are classified, signs and symptoms of RCC, medical treatments for RCC, and priority nursing interventions for patients with RCC.

Renal cell carcinoma, part 3.

ABSTRACT: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for most renal malignancies. This article, the last in a three-part series, presents treatment options for RCC using the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor, Node, and Metastasis staging system as a framework, as well as nursing-care options for patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy.

[Using Shared Decision-Making on a Patient With Renal Cell Carcinoma and Subcutaneous Metastasis: A Care Experience].

When a patient aggressively receives treatment and looks forward to returning home, the prolonging of meaningful life is difficult, even with medical treatment. It is typically very challenging at this juncture for the members of the medical team to fully disclose to the patient the true extent of his / her condition and to recommend the withdrawal of life-support medical treatment. This article describes a nursing care experience with a renal cell carcinoma patient with subcutaneous metastasis. Her pain was induced by an edema and subcutaneous tumor in her lower limbs, which diminished the effectiveness of hemodialysis. During hospitalization, the mood of the patient shifted from looking forward to recovery to facing a rapidly worsening health status. Achieving a balance between fighting the disease and sustaining patient quality of life became increasingly difficult, and the patient began experiencing anxiety about dying. We use the belief of shared decision-making to guide the case in a discussion of her expectations during which primary medical care options and her choice to withdraw from hemodial-ysis treatment were explained. Essential oils, selected for appropriateness with her current disease stage, were used to stabilize her mood and relieve pain. In the end, we helped the patient to complete her pre-death preparations and to say goodbye to her children, parents, and siblings. As a result, the patient experienced a good death.

Adult metanephric adenoma presumed to be all benign? A clinical perspective.

BACKGROUND: In most documented literature, metanephric adenoma (MA) is described as a benign tumour. Nevertheless, the nature of MA remains unclear and the clinical criteria of different MA subtypes are not well established. In the present study, we investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of MA, especially those of the uncommon histological subtypes. METHODS: A cohort study was performed on 18 patients with pathologically proven MA in our institute from January 2004 to June 2014. The patients' clinicopathological and radiological data were retrospectively analysed and evaluated with an emphasis on the corresponding subtypes. RESULTS: The patient population had a female: male ratio of 1:1 and mean age of 50 years (range, 18-66 years). The mean tumour size was 3.9 cm (range, 1.4-9.0 cm). There were no pathognomonic radiological features that posed a challenge for a preoperative diagnosis of MA. Fourteen patients underwent radical nephrectomy, and the other four underwent partial nephrectomy. Three histological subtypes were observed: classic MA (n = 10), malignant MA (n = 2), and composite MA with coexistence of different malignant components (n = 6). Despite the presence of atypical histological features and malignant components among the patients, only one patient developed distant metastasis (median postoperative follow-up, 56 months; range, 30-86 months). CONCLUSIONS: MAs are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with different biological characteristics. The correct identification of this entity and its subtypes would facilitate stratification of optimal management protocols and accurate assessment of the prognosis.

Evaluación de la hemodiafiltración con reinfusión endógena en el tratamiento del riñón del mieloma / Evaluation of hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion in the treatment of myeloma kidney

Introducción: El mieloma múltiple (MM) es una enfermedad hematológica que produce un fracaso renal agudo (FRA) subsidiario de hemodiálisis en el 10 % de casos. Este fracaso renal, denominado riñón del mieloma, está producido por una nefropatía por cilindros, formados fundamentalmente por cadenas ligeras libres (CLL), que originan una obstrucción tubular que si no remite precozmente, produce daños glomerulares e insuficiencia renal crónica. El tratamiento del riñón del mieloma se centra en reducir la formación de CLL con quimioterapia, y en eliminar las cadenas existentes reduciendo su concentración en plasma. Las técnicas empleadas tradicionalmente en la depuración de CLL, utilizan membranas de muy alta permeabilidad, y presentan el inconveniente de la elevada pérdida de albúmina. Recientemente ha aparecido la hemodiafiltración con reinfusión endógena (HFR), técnica que combina difusión, convección y adsorción. Con esta técnica se utiliza una membrana de muy alta permeabilidad para la extracción de ultrafiltrado, y podría ser utilizada para la eliminación de CLL, salvando el inconveniente de la pérdida de albúmina que tienen otras técnicas. Objetivo: Analizar la eliminación de CLL con esta técnica y su relación con la recuperación de la función renal, y el comportamiento de la albúmina sérica en tres pacientes tratados por FRA por MM. Pacientes y método: Estudiamos tres pacientes con edad media de 64 años tratados con HFR por FRA por MM. Los tres fueron tratados con quimioterapia y HFR para la eliminación de CLL utilizando monitores fórmulaTM 2000, y Kit Supra 17 de Bellco®. El tratamiento fue personalizado en función de los niveles de CLL, manteniéndose mientras el paciente requirió hemodiálisis...(AU)

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic disease that causes acute renal failure (ARF), requiring hemodialysis 10% of cases. This renal failure, called myeloma kidney, is caused by the formation of urinary casts in the renal tubules from free light chains (FLCs). The tubular obstruction if not treated early, causes glomerular damage and chronic kidney disease. Treatment of myeloma kidney focuses on reducing the formation of FLCs with chemotherapy and the elimination of existing chains reducing its concentration in plasma. Techniques traditionally used in the clearance of FLCs, using very high permeability membranes, and have the disadvantage of the high albumin loss. Recently hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR) has emerged, a technique that combines diffusion, convection and adsorption. This technique uses a high permeability membrane to extract ultrafiltrate, and could be used for eliminating FLCs, overcoming the albumin loss. Aim. To analyze the elimination of FLCs with this technique and its relationship to the recovery of renal function, and monitoring of serum albumin in three patients treated by ARF due to MM. Material and methods: Three patients with ARF by MM, with a mean age of 64 years and treated with HFR were studied. All patients were treated with chemotherapy and HFR for the elimination of FLCs using formulaTM 2000 monitors and Kit Supra 17 from Bellco®. The treatment is personalized according to the levels of FLCs, maintained during hemodialysis. To evaluate the elimination of FLCs, blood samples and ultrafiltrates of the week were analyzed. Pre- and post- session FLCs and serum albumin concentrations were determined, calculating the reduction ratio. In ultrafiltrates, FLCs and albumin concentrations before and after passing through the adsorptive resin, at the beginning and end of the session were determined...(AU)

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of adding behavioral counseling to supervised physical activity in kidney cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Supervised physical activity (PA) improves short-term health outcomes in cancer survivors, but longer-term adherence is rarely achieved. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of adding behavioral counseling to supervised PA in kidney cancer survivors (KCSs). METHODS: Thirty-two KCSs were randomized to a 4-week supervised PA program plus standard exercise counseling (SPA + EC group; n = 16) or a 4-week supervised PA plus behavioral counseling based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (SPA + BC group; n = 16). The primary outcome was self-reported PA at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, anthropometric measures, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical function. RESULTS: Follow-up rates for outcomes at 12 weeks were 88% and 94% for fitness testing and questionnaires, respectively. Adherence to the interventions was 94% in both groups with a 6% attrition rate. Analyses of covariance revealed that PA minutes at 12 weeks favored the SPA + BC group by +34 minutes (95% confidence interval, -62 to 129), which was a small effect size (d = 0.21) not reaching statistical significance (P = .47). Moreover, the SPA + BC group increased their 6-minute walk by 48 m more than the SPA + EC group (95% confidence interval, 1-95; d = +0.64; P = .046). There were no significant changes in quality of life measures. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that adding behavioral counseling to supervised PA in KCSs is feasible and may improve PA and fitness in the short-term. Larger and longer-term trials are needed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Oncology nurses may consider adopting behavioral counseling strategies in addition to supervised PA to motivate KCSs to maintain PA.

Renal cell cancer: nurses' role in prevention and management.

In both the UK and throughout Europe, more patients are presenting with renal cell cancer (RCC), also known as renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer. The overall survival rate varies depending on tumour grade, nodal involvement and metastasis. For those with metastasis survival drops to 10%. This article explores the risk factors associated with RCC diagnosis and staging, treatments including drugs and procedures and the role of the nurse in diagnosis and accurate assessment. Nurses are ideally suited to consider the physical, functional, social, and emotional status of their patients In addition, it is essential that the nurse has an understanding of new pharmaceutical therapies, which have been licensed to treat RCC, and a sound knowledge of the possible side effects and nursing management associated with these drugs.

Renal cell carcinoma: a reappraisal.

Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma is the gold standard. Nephron-sparing surgery, laparoscopic and robotic surgery and minimally invasive procedures have decreased the morbidity of treatment. Although traditionally resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, advances have been made with immunotherapies. Physicians and nurses caring for patients with renal cell carcinoma should be aware of changes in management and newer therapies for treatment of advanced disease.

Urothelial cancers: ureter, renal pelvis, and bladder.

OBJECTIVES: To review the diagnosis, treatment, and nursing management of patients with urothelial cancers. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Text books, and clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Progress is being made in the surgical and systemic management of urothelial cancers, and the oncology nurse is in a position to make an impact on patient education and overall quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nursing care begins at pre-diagnostic testing and continues through treatment for metastatic disease. Nurses must be knowledgeable about diagnostic tests, treatment options, and the quality-of-life implications of associated surgeries and/or treatments to support and guide patients. Education should be comprehensive, addressing not only treatment side effects but also long-term implications on patients' lives and lifestyles.

Concepts in advanced renal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment options for advanced renal cell carcinoma have increased dramatically over the past 6 years as a result of improved understanding of the biology of renal cancer and the development of therapies to target pathways relevant to tumor progression. DATA SOURCES: Research-based articles. CONCLUSION: New therapies to treat advanced renal cell cancer results in a need for evidence-based decision making when discussing treatment choices. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Knowledge of therapeutic strategies, their proposed mechanism of action, potential adverse events, and management strategies provides nurses with a foundation to provide appropriate patient education and effective management of treatment-related side effects, assisting patients to maximize clinical outcomes.

Nursing considerations with pazopanib therapy: focus on metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The rapid evolution of targeted therapies has had a dramatic impact on multiple domains in oncology, particularly metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Four agents antagonizing vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated signaling have been approved for the treatment of metastatic RCC, including the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and the small molecular inhibitors sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib. Pazopanib was approved in 2009 for this disease on the basis of a phase III clinical trial demonstrating a superior progression-free survival compared to placebo in 435 patients with either treatment-naive or cytokine-refractory disease. The trial offered insight related to the toxicity profile associated with this agent. The most common clinical adverse events are diarrhea, hypertension, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting. With respect to laboratory adverse events, hepatotoxicity represents a specific concern with pazopanib. Oncology nurses play a critical role in counseling patients regarding the toxicity profile and management of adverse events in pazopanib treatment.

Managing renal cell carcinoma: the nurse's role.

Diagnosing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be difficult. Symptoms include a palpable mass in the abdomen, haematuria and hydronephrosis, but diagnosis can be delayed because of symptom similarities with other conditions, and often occurs incidentally during radiographic imaging for other complaints. This aside, more than 6600 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer annually in the UK (Patient UK, 2011). Although numerous improvements and greater use of screening measures have occurred, screening for this disease is limited to those patients identified as having a known genetic lineage linked to RCC (Pirass and Dahlstrom, 2010).