The emerging genetic landscape of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents a group of diseases arising from renal tubule epithelial cells and constitutes approximately 90% of all kidney cancers. The major socioeconomic impact of this disease continues to grow with its rising incidence worldwide. More than 76,000 new diagnoses of kidney cancer are projected in the United States in 2021, and an estimated 13,780 patient deaths will be attributed to this disease. The majority of patients present with organ-confined RCC, and surgical resection of these tumors has generally resulted in excellent long-term survival outcomes. However, it is reported that up to 30% of newly diagnosed patients present with nodal or distant metastasis. Systemic therapy has historically been reserved for patients in this setting with advanced or metastatic RCC.