Patients are often referred to City of Hope following the discovery of a kidney mass, which may or may not be a malignant tumor (cancer). Some masses are benign (not cancerous).  A careful diagnosis is needed to confirm the health problem and assess its extent.

City of Hope specializes in research designed to improve the care of patients with many kinds of cancer, including kidney cancer.  Our services encompass all aspects of care, including prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment. 

In addition, through our active clinical trials program, we can often provide patients with access to promising new anticancer drugs and technologies that are not available to the general public.

There are several types of kidney (renal) cancer, including:

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which accounts for 85 percent of malignant kidney tumors. The most common subtype is called clear cell RCC.
• Transitional cell carcinomas, which are cancers of the lining of the kidneys, urine collecting system and sometimes the bladder.
• Wilm’s tumor, which most commonly affects children.

Doctors need to identify the specific sub-type of kidney cancer or cell type to decide the best treatment strategy. Generally, the success of cancer treatment depends on whether or not the malignancy can be completely removed through surgery.

Benign (noncancerous) kidney tumors include:

• Renal adenomas, very small, slow growing, benign tumors that can resemble early renal cell carcinomas.
• Oncocytomas, a type of benign tumor that can grow quite large.
• Angiomyolipoma, a rare benign tumor.