Wilms Tumor: Updates about Pathogenesis and New Possible Clinical Treatments of the Most Frequent Pediatric Urogenital Cancer: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Wilms tumor (or nephroblastoma) is a malignant and solid neoplasm that derives from the primitive renal bud. It represents the most frequent primary tumor of the urogenital tract in childhood, and treatment consists of surgery and chemo-radiotherapy. However, concerning quality of life, the new therapeutic frontier is exploring other safer and potentially more effective options, such as minimally invasive surgery and biological drugs. Method: Literature (PubMed) from January 2013 to July 2023 was reviewed, checking for innovations in diagnosis and treatment. Results: A total of 130 articles was included in the review. Conclusions: In addition to the therapeutic strategies already identified, such as classic surgery and pharmacological therapies, recent studies focus attention on the new frontiers of minimally invasive surgery, such as diagnostics using biomarkers and immunotherapy, which could represent a new therapeutic option and is possibly less risky than in the past, contributing in fact to the current knowledge of the scientific panorama in terms of “tumor microenvironment” and systemic implications deriving from oncological disease.