Practical management of renal cell carcinoma: integrating current approaches with advances in bone metastasis treatment

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common type of tumor that can develop in the kidney. It is responsible for around one-third of all cases of neoplasms. RCC manifests itself in a variety of distinct subtypes. The most frequent of which is clear cell RCC, followed by papillary and chromophobe RCC. RCC has the potential for metastasis to a variety of organs; nevertheless, bone metastases are one of the most common and potentially fatal complications. These bone metastases are characterized by osteolytic lesions that can result in pathological fractures, hypercalcemia, and other complications, which can ultimately lead to a deterioration in quality of life and an increase morbidity. While nephrectomy remains a foundational treatment for RCC, emerging evidence suggests that targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and T cell checkpoint inhibitors, may offer effective alternatives, potentially obviating the need for adjuvant nephrectomy in certain cases of metastatic RCC Bone metastases continue to be a difficult complication of RCC, which is why more research is required to enhance patient outcome.