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WHAT IS ccRCC?

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, or ccRCC, is a common and aggressive form of kidney cancer. It is named “clear cell” because the tumor or mass cells look like clear bubbles when viewed under a microscope.1

ccRCC rarely causes symptoms in its early stages. It is often found when an imaging scan is performed for a different condition like kidney stones.1

More than
7 in10
kidney cancers
are ccRCC2

Who is at risk for ccRCC?

ccRCC can affect anyone, regardless of their age, race, or gender. However, men are twice as likely to develop it than women, and people aged 50 to 70 years are most commonly affected.1

Risk factors that can increase a person's chances of developing ccRCC include:

Smoking1
Obesity1
High blood pressure1
Kidney disease requiring dialysis1
Being exposed to certain toxins or chemicals at work1
Ongoing use of pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen1,3

Having a family history of renal cell carcinoma increases your risk of kidney cancer. Some genetic conditions may also increase a person’s risk of ccRCC, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease (pronounced vohn hip-el lin-dow) and tuberous sclerosis complex (pronounced too-bur-us skler-oh-sis).1

Living with kidney cancer

If you are diagnosed with kidney cancer, it is normal to feel anxious. You may have trouble sleeping or find yourself thinking about your diagnosis a lot. You might also feel angry or sad.4

It is important to talk with your health care team about how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally, because they can help you with coping strategies and offer more resources.4

Support groups are another way to meet people going through the same experience. During these meetings, people share what they have learned about dealing with cancer and the effects of treatment.5

Remember, each person copes differently. What works for one person may not work for another.4

FIND RESOURCES

Improvements in kidney tumor identification

Currently, biopsy or surgery is required to confirm if a kidney tumor is ccRCC.1 A new, noninvasive way to identify ccRCC, called a CA9 PET scan, may soon be available, subject to regulatory approval. If approved, under the supervision of a physician, this type of scan could help identify ccRCC sooner, with more accuracy, and potentially without the need for surgery—all of which may help improve treatment outcomes.6

CA9-positive PET image.7 Patient representative example, individual results may vary.

Treatment is most successful when ccRCC is found early8

Find out why
CA9, carbonic anhydrase 9; PET, positron emission tomography.
References: 1. Cleveland Clinic. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22273-clear-cell-renal-cell-carcinoma 2. Metin M, Aydın H, Karaoğlanoğlu M. Renal cell carcinoma or oncocytoma? The contribution of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to the differential diagnosis of renal masses. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(2):221. 3. Choueiri TK, Je Y, Cho E. Analgesic use and the risk of kidney cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Int J Cancer. 2014;134(2):384-396. 4. Mayo Clinic. Kidney cancer. Published May 25, 2022. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352669 5. American Cancer Society. Psychosocial support options for people with cancer. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/understanding-psychosocial-support-services.html 6. Hekman MCH, Rijpkema M, Aarntzen EH, et al. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with 89Zr-girentuximab can aid in diagnostic dilemmas of clear cell renal cell carcinoma suspicion. Eur Urol. 2018;74(3):257-260. 7. Data on file. Telix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. 8. Cleveland Clinic. Renal cell carcinoma. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24906-renal-cell-carcinoma