The Heidelberg histologic classification of renal cell tumors subdivides renal cell tumors into benign and malignant parenchymal neoplasms and, where possible, limits each subcategory to the most common documented genetic abnormalities (Kovacs et al., 1997). Malignant tumors are subclassified into common or conventional renal cell carcinoma (clear cell); papillary renal cell carcinoma; chromophobe renal cell carcinoma; collecting duct carcinoma, with medullary carcinoma of the kidney; and unclassified renal cell carcinoma. The common or conventional type accounts for about 75% of renal cell neoplasms and is characterized genetically by a highly specific deletion of chromosome 3p. Papillary renal cell carcinoma (see 605074) accounts for about 10% of renal cell tumors. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 5% of renal cell neoplasms. Genetically, chromophobe RCC is characterized by a combination of loss of heterozygosity of chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 10, 13, 17, and 21 and hypodiploid DNA content. Collecting duct carcinoma accounts for about 1% of renal cell carcinoma.
Renal cell carcinoma occurs nearly twice as often in men as in women; incidence in the United States is equivalent among whites and blacks. Cigarette smoking doubles the likelihood of renal cell carcinoma and contributes to as many as one-third of cases. Obesity is also a risk factor, particularly in women. Other risk factors include hypertension, unopposed estrogen therapy, and occupational exposure to petroleum products, heavy metals, or asbestos (summary by Motzer et al., 1996).
Genetic Heterogeneity of Renal Cell Carcinoma
Germline mutation resulting in nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell and chromophobe type occurs in the HNF1A gene (142410) and the HNF1B gene (189907).
Somatic mutations in renal cell carcinomas occur in the VHL gene (608537), the TRC8 gene (603046), the OGG1 gene (601982), the ARMET gene (601916), the FLCN gene (607273), and the BAP1 gene (603089).
See also RCCX1 (300854) for a discussion of renal cell carcinoma associated with translocations of chromosome Xp11.2 involving the TFE3 gene (314310).
For a discussion of papillary renal cell carcinoma, see RCCP1 (605074).
Occurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Other Disorders
Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (193300) is a familial multicancer syndrome in which there is a susceptibility to a variety of neoplasms, including renal cell carcinoma of clear cell histology and renal cysts. A syndrome of predisposition to uterine leiomyomas and papillary renal cell carcinoma has been reported (150800). Medullary carcinoma of the kidney is believed to arise from the collecting ducts of the renal medulla and is associated with sickle cell trait (603903) (Kovacs et al., 1997). Renal cell carcinoma occurs in patients with the Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (135150).
Bertolotto et al. (2011) identified a missense mutation in the MITF (156845) gene that increases the risk of renal cell carcinoma with or without malignant melanoma (CMM8; 614456). [from OMIM]
