Renal Cancer In Patients Research Articles

Hereditary cancer syndromes with increased risk of renal cancer

Renal cancer (RC) is one of the three most common diseases in oncologic urology. Its accurate diagnosis and prognosis remain difficult and important problems. Some cases of RC are associated with hereditary cancer syndromes and are caused by germline mutations. This review describes monogenic forms of hereditary RC (von Hippel–Lindau syndrome, Birt–Hogg– Dubé syndrome, hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer, hereditary papillary renal carcinoma, BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome) and diseases with several candidate genes (SDH-mutated tumors, tuberous sclerosis complex). Additionally, the review discusses the increased risk of RC in patients with frequent hereditary cancer syndromes predisposing to the development of a wide range of tumor types: Lynch and Li-Fraumeni syndromes. RC in combination with other carcinomas can develop in patients carrying pathogenic mutations in the candidate genes of different hereditary cancer syndromes – multi-locus inherited neoplasia allele syndrome (MINAS) – which is especially important due to the growing role of high-throughput sequencing in practical oncologic genetics. Additionally, guidelines on modern laboratory genetic diagnostics and active surveillance are presented for each syndrome.

Transperitoneal Laparoscopic and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Cancer in Patients with Previous Abdominal Surgery: a Single Centre Experience

Patients with previous abdominal surgery are at an increased risk of peritoneal adhesions, which may complicate transperitoneal surgery. The objective of this article is to report single centre experience with transperitoneal laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy for renal cancer in patients with previous abdominal surgery. We evaluated data from 128 patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic partial nephrectomy from January 2010 to May 2020. Patients were divided into three groups according to the localization of main previous surgery: in the upper contralateral abdominal quadrant, in the upper ipsilateral abdominal quadrant or in the middle line, in lower abdominal quadrants. Each group was divided into two subgroups (laparoscopic/robotic partial nephrectomy). We separately analysed data of indocyanine green-enhanced robotic partial nephrectomy. Our study did not find significant difference in the rate of intraoperative or postoperative complications between any of the groups. The type of partial nephrectomy (robotic or laparoscopic) affected the surgery time, blood loss, and length of stay in hospital, but did not significantly influence the frequency of complications. Partial nephrectomy in group of patients with prior renal surgery led to a higher rate of intraoperative low-grade complications. We did not observe more favourable results for indocyanine green-enhanced robotic partial nephrectomy. The location of previous abdominal surgery does not influence the rate of intraoperative or postoperative complications. The type of partial nephrectomy (robotic or laparoscopic) does not affect the frequency of complications.

Significance of Glucose Control for Perioperative and Long-Term Renal Functions after Nephron-sparing Surgery for Renal Cancer in Patients with Diabetes.

This study aimed to evaluate the predictive factors for perioperative and long-term renal functions after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). The clinical records of 379 patients who underwent NSS for a single renal tumor with a normal contralateral kidney between 2009 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. After surgery, the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within 7 days and the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) 5 years later were assessed using serum creatinine (S-Cr) levels. Perioperative AKI was defined as an increase in the S-Cr level by ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or 1.5-1.9 times the baseline value. CKD was defined as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreasing from > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 to < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Changes in the eGFR were assessed during 5 years after surgery. Among 379 patients, 81 (21.4%) patients presented diabetes mellitus (DM), and 30 (7.92%) experienced uncontrolled DM. The AKI occurrence and CKD progression were observed in 50 (13.2%) patients and 79 (20.8%) patients, respectively. Multivariable analyses revealed that female gender (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-0.91, odds ratio [OR] = 0.39, P = 0.029), uncontrolled DM (95% CI: 1.05-6.60, OR = 2.63, P = 0.039), and intermediate NePhRO score (95% CI: 1.07-3.80, OR = 2.02, P = 0.03) were associated with perioperative AKI. In addition, old age (95% CI: 1.10-1.18, OR = 1.14, P < 0.001) and uncontrolled DM (95% CI: 1.84-11.4, OR = 4.57, P = 0.001) were associated with long-term CKD progression. Uncontrolled DM is the only predictive factor for perioperative and long-term renal functions after nephron-sparing surgery.

When it starts in the skin and goes to the lungs, where does it stop?

Key messageThis clinical case reports a rare disease—Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé Syndrome—characterized by skin lesions and multiple lung cysts. Because of its rarity, BHDS is likely undiagnosed and mistaken for primary spontaneous pneumothorax or emphysema. An early diagnosis is important to set up screening for renal cancer in patients and affected relatives.

Cabozantinib in the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

In recent years, the standards of drug therapy for advanced kidney cancer have undergone significant changes associated with the appearance of the effective immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as the high affinity second-generation multi-kinase inhibitors. One of the new tyrosine kinase inhibitors associated with the proven antitumor activity and safety in patients with advanced forms of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is cabozantinib. The standards of drug therapy for advanced renal cancer have significantly changed in recent years with the emergence of effective anti-tumor immune response checkpoint inhibitors and high-affinity second-generation multikinase inhibitors. One of the novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors with proven antitumor activity and safety in patients with advanced renal cell cancer (RCC) is cabozantinib. In the first-line therapy for advanced renal cancer, the combination of cabozantinib with nivolumab became the regimen of choice in patients of all risk groups, according to International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC), regardless of the presence of a sarcomatoid component in the tumor based on the results of the randomized phase III CheckMate 9ER clinical trial (n=651), which demonstrated a significant benefit of immune targeted therapy compared to sunitinib in terms of overall survival (OS; median 37.7 and 34.3 months, respectively), progression-free survival (PFS; median 16.6 and 8.3 months, respectively) and objective response rate (ORR; 55.7 and 28.4%, respectively). Cabozantinib monotherapy in the first-line therapy of advanced renal cancer in patients in the intermediate-risk and poor-risk groups is an alternative regimen reserved for patients with contraindications to anti-tumor immune response checkpoint inhibitors. This recommendation is based on the results of the open-label phase II RCT, CABOSUN (n=157), which showed a significant increase in PFS in the cabozantinib group compared to sunitinib (8.6 month vs 5.3 months, respectively). Also, cabozantinib is the drug of choice in papillary RCC due to the proven advantage in terms of PFS over sunitinib (9.0 and 5.6 months, respectively) demonstrated in the SWOG 1500 phase II RCT (n=152). Cabozantinib remains the drug of choice for second-line therapy of RCC resistant to anti-angiogenic therapy, based on the results of the phase III METEOR RCT, in which the drug showed a compelling advantage over everolimus for PFS (7.4 and 3.8 months, respectively) and OS (21.4 and 16.5 months, respectively). The article presents a detailed analysis of these studies.

Survival of bladder or renal cancer in patients with CHEK2 mutations.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and the survival of CHEK2 mutation positive and CHEK2 mutation negative patients diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer.Materials and methods1016 patients with bladder and 402 cases with kidney cancer and 8302 controls were genotyped for four CHEK2 variants: 1100delC, del5395, IVS2+1G>A and I157T. Predictors of survival were determined among CHEK2 pathogenic variant carriers using the Cox proportional hazards model. The median follow-up was 17.5 years. Covariates included age (≤60; >61 years), sex (female; male), clinical characteristics (stage: TNM, grade, histopathological type), smoking status (non-smoking; smoking) and cancer family history (negative; positive).ResultsWe found no impact of CHEK2 mutations on bladder or kidney cancer survival. However, we observed a possible increased survival in the subgroup of patients with stage T1 bladder cancer with CHEK2 mutations but this did not meet statistical significance (HR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.02–1.04; p = 0.055). Moreover, we observed that the missense mutations were more frequent in the low grade invasive bladder cancer patient group (OR = 7.9; 95% CI 1.50–42.1; p = 0.04) and in patients with bladder cancer with stage Ta (OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.30–4.55; p = 0.006). The different results where missense mutations occurs less often we observed among patients with high grade invasive bladder cancer (OR = 0.12; 95% CI 0.02–0.66; p = 0.04) and those with stage T1 disease (OR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.07–0.76; p = 0.01). Our investigations revealed that any mutation in CHEK2 occurs more often among patients with stage Ta bladder cancer (OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.19–3.47; p = 0.01) and less often in patients with stage T1 disease (OR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.12–0.78; p = 0.01). In the kidney cancer patients, truncating mutations were present more often in the group with clear cell carcinoma GII (OR = 8.0; 95% CI 0.95–67.7; p = 0.05). The 10-year survival for all CHEK2 mutation carriers with bladder cancer was 33% and for non-carriers 11% (p = 0.15). The 10-year survival for CHEK2 mutation carriers with kidney cancer 34% and for non-carriers 20% (p = 0.5).ConclusionCHEK2 mutations were not associated with any change in bladder or kidney cancer survival regardless of their age, sex, smoking status and family history. We observed a potentially protective effect of CHEK2 mutations on survival for patients with stage T1 bladder cancer. CHEK2 missense mutations were more common among patients with low grade invasive bladder cancer and in patients with stage Ta diease. The frequencies of the I157T CHEK2 pathogenic variant were less in patients with high grade invasive bladder cancer and those with stage T1 disease. Among patients with bladder cancer with stage Ta disease, the OR for any mutation in CHEK2 was 2.0 but for those with stage T1 disease, the OR was 0.3. We observed truncating CHEK2 mutations were associated with kidney cancer patients with GII clear cell carcinoma.

Methylation and expression levels of microRNA-23b/-24-1/-27b, microRNA-30c-1/-30e, microRNA-301a and let-7g are dysregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer in adults. DNA methylation of regulatory sequences at the genomic level and interaction between microRNAs and the messenger RNAs of target genes at the posttranscriptional level contribute to the dynamic regulation of gene activity. Aberrations in these mechanisms can result in impaired functioning of cell signaling pathways, such as that observed in malignant tumors. We hypothesized that microRNA genes methylation may be associated with renal cancer in patients. We examined methylation levels of 22 microRNA genes in tumor and normal kidney tissue of 30 patients with TNM Stage III clear cell renal cell carcinoma using a pathway-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction array (EpiTect Methyl II PCR Arrays, Qiagen). MicroRNA expression analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction was also performed. Significant differences in methylation levels were found in two genes and in two clusters of microRNA genes. MicroRNA-23b/-24-1/-27b, microRNA -30c-1/-30e and let-7g was hypermetylated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue, microRNA -301a was hypomethylated in tumor compared with the adjacent normal tissues. Expression of microRNA-301a, microRNA-23b in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissues was significantly overexpressed when compared with the adjacent normal tissues and let-7g was significantly downregulated in tumor. Our results may indicate the contribution of microRNA-301a, microRNA-23b and let-7g in the pathogenesis of renal cancer, but further studies are needed to determine the functional significance of the detected changes.

Innovations in Renal Replacement Technology and Their Impact on the Risk of Renal Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients

Introduction: The current standard of care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a kidney transplant, and when a donor organ is not available, patients undergo long-term dialysis. There is a growing gap between patients who require a kidney transplant and the availability of donor organs. Dialysis is more widely available, but does not replace full kidney functionality, leading to worse outcomes. The past 20 years have seen an increase in alternative renal replacement technology in an effort to address the aforementioned issues with current therapies. The risk of kidney cancer in kidney transplant patients is increased when compared with the general population; the risk is hypothesized to be most closely tied to immunosuppression after the transplant surgery and length of time on dialysis. Given the increased risk of kidney cancer associated with kidney transplantation, it is imperative to assess the capabilities of these new devices not only for their functionality as alternatives to a donor organ, but also their potential to reduce the risk of renal cancer in this patient population. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to assess the technological potential of the most recent advancements in renal replacement technology in reducing risk of renal cancer in ESRD patients who require kidney transplantation. Methods: We performed a PubMED database search in July-August 2020 with the following search terms: [artificial kidney], [wearable artificial kidney], [bioartificial kidney], [implantable bioartificial kidney], [kidney regeneration]. These search terms were used to identify publications about the recent innovations in kidney replacement technology. Each technology was analyzed for its ability to replace total kidney functionality as well as its potential to reduce the risk of renal cancer. The potential to reduce risk of renal cancer was assessed by the device’s impact on immunosuppression and dialysis timeframes. Results: Four of the newest innovations in renal replacement technology were identified and analyzed: the wearable artificial kidney (WAK), the automated wearable artificial kidney (AWAK), the implantable bioartificial kidney (IAK), and kidney regeneration technology. Of these innovations, the IAK and kidney regeneration technology were found to have the most promise in reducing the risk of renal cancer in ESRD patients requiring transplantation. Conclusions: With the volume of new medical devices and technologies rising every year, it is imperative to analyze the impact they have on patient outcomes. A new technology should be assessed to determine if it improves on a limitation of prior solutions. In this study, we identified two devices with the potential to reduce the occurrence of a major risk associated with patients requiring kidney transplantation: renal cancer. Additional studies are required to analyze these devices once they move into the human clinical trial testing phase.

Review of hereditary leiomyomatosis renal cell carcinoma with focus on clinical and pathobiological aspects of renal tumors.

The entity of hereditary leiomyomatosis renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC)-associated RCC has been proposed and integrated into the recent International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) of renal tumors. This tumor is characterized by presence of cutaneous and/or uterine leiomyomas and RCC and autosomal dominant hereditary form. Grossly, HLRCC arising in the kidney show the solid tumor with frequent partial cystic area. Microscopically, the tumor typically shows papillary RCC, type 2, with eosinophilic large nucleoli reminiscent of cytomegaloviral inclusion and perinuclear clearing/haloes. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells show the overexpression for 2SC and reduced expression of FH. Germline mutation of fumarate hydratase (FH) gene, the HLRCC responsible gene mapped to chromosome 1q43, has been identified in patients with HLRCC. As the renal cancer in patients with HLRCC generally behave aggressively even in a small size, complete surgical resection and retroperitoneal lymph node resection should be performed promptly when the tumor is discovered. The surveillance of renal tumor in FH gene germline mutation-positive patients should be started from the early age using ultrasound sonography or magnetic resonance imaging.

Incidentally diagnosed renal cancer following investigation for new-onset hyperglycemia

Detecting paraneoplastic syndrome is important for the diagnosis of renal cancer. We present an incidentally detected case of renal cancer during the investigation of new-onset hyperglycemia in a 68-year-old woman. The patient presented with palpitations and weight loss; her laboratory findings showed hyperglycemia, anemia, and elevated C-reactive protein and alkaline phosphatase levels. Computed tomography revealed a right renal cancer. Following tumor removal, her glycemic control improved, and insulin therapy, which was needed preoperatively, was not needed anymore. Clinicians should suspect renal cancer in patients with new-onset hyperglycemia occurring simultaneously with interleukin-6-associated paraneoplastic syndrome.

Complications following locoregional therapy of renal cancer

Renal locoregional therapy or local ablation therapy, offers a valid solution for patients with small renal tumours that are not suitable surgical candidates. Local ablation techniques are usually performed under imaging guidance and are minimal invasive. However, complications may occur even with this minimal invasive treatment. The most frequent complication of ablation treatment is bleeding. Patients with renal cancer are often on antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment for other reasons therefore at high risk of bleeding. The formation of a perirenal haematoma is reported in up to 30% from various authors [1-3]. Among the ablation methods cryotherapy appears to be leading to the formation of perirenal bleeding, probably due to the fact that a higher number of probes are usually required. Larger scale bleeding that would require transfusion and embolization is less frequent and is reported in up to 2% in various series [1,4]. Bleeding in such cases may be taking origin form the intercostal arteries or from the ablation site of the renal parenchyma. Bleeding may also be expressed in the form of haematuria in up to 2.5% of the cases particularly when central lesions are treated [5-7]. However, haematuria may be transitional and urine may clear up after 24-48 hours. Further reported complications may be adjacent organ thermal injury, particularly of the colon, that is reported in up to 1% in the various series [8]. In such cases thermal injury perforation and peritonitis may occur. Hydrodissection with glucose for RFA or CO2 dissection for cryoablation may prevent this complication. Furthermore, thermal injury of the renal tract may occur and lead to the formation of a urinoma. Cold solution through an antegrade ureteric stent would protect the ureter from thermal injury when central lesions are treated. Pain post treatment may also occur, however it is usually limited within the first two days. If persistent pain occurs then nerve injury needs to be suspected. Infection in up to 2% has been reported [9] however antibiotics are not routinely administered. For the treatment of renal cancer surgical resection remains the standard treatment modality. Locoregional therapy has been frequently used to treat renal cancer in patients not suitable for surgical resection. This approach is minimally invasive, however it is not free of complications that need to be recognized and avoided.

Chronic Pouch Inflammation and Risk for New-Onset Extraintestinal Cancers in Patients With Restorative Proctocolectomy for Ulcerative Colitis

To date, there have been no studies on extraintestinal cancer in patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and natural history of extraintestinal cancer and their risk factors in patients after IPAA for IBD. All patients after IPAA with underlying IBD and extraintestinal neoplasia were identified from a prospectively maintained 932-case Pouchitis Registry from 2002 to 2010. The study group consisted of patients with de novo extraintestinal cancer, which developed after IPAA. Controls were those without extraintestinal cancer, who were randomly selected from the registry with a case to control ratio of 1 to 4. Thirty-one demographic and clinical data were compared between the study and control groups. Twenty-eight patients with de novo extraintestinal cancer after IPAA were identified, with a mean duration of pouch construction of 8.2 ± 9.7 years. The cumulative frequency of de novo extraintestinal cancer in patients after IPAA for IBD was 3%, consisting of cancer of the breast (18%), kidney (14%), prostate (11%), thyroid (11%), and bladder (7%); melanoma (11%); and other cancers (28%). The mean age of the study group was 57.6 ± 10.1 years, with 16 (57%) being men; 8 (29%) were consuming tobacco, and 3 (11%) having preoperative and/or postoperative biologic use. Patient age, left-sided colitis, and duration of IBD before IPAA were significantly greater in patients in the study group than in controls (P < 0.05) in univariate analysis. Preoperative or postoperative use of biologics and a preoperative diagnosis of colonic neoplasia were not shown to be associated with extraintestinal cancer. The prevalence seemed to be increased in patients with renal cancer with the standardized prevalence ratio of 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-12.2). In the logistic regression model, older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8), left-sided colitis (OR = 12.3; 95% CI, 2.2-67.8), and chronic pouch inflammation (OR = 4.4; 95% CI, 1.5-12.9) were associated with the risk for extraintestinal cancer. The 1-year and 2-year mortality rates after cancer diagnosis were 7.1% and 10.7%, respectively. There was no difference in pouch failure rate between the 2 groups (4% versus 5%; P = 1.00). The observed number of cases of renal cancer in patients after IPAA appeared to be greater than the expected number of cases in the general population. Older age and chronic pouch inflammation may be associated with an increased risk for extraintestinal cancer in this cohort. Biologic use is not associated with extraintestinal cancer in our population.

Incidence of renal cancer in patients with malignant melanoma.

Incidence of renal cancer in patients with malignant melanoma.

Prospective Study of the Role of Inflammation in Renal Cancer

Background: The local and systemic inflammatory responses provide prognostic information in cancer. The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) provides additional prognostic information than C-reactive protein (CRP) alone when assessing the systemic inflammation in cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the role of local and systemic inflammation in renal cancer. Methods: The cohort consisted of 79 patients who had undergone potential curative resection. Systemic inflammation, mGPS, was constructed by measuring preoperative CRP and albumin concentrations and the Klintrup-Makinen score was evaluated histologically for the local inflammatory response. Pathological parameters such as T stage, grade and tumour necrosis were also assessed. The local inflammatory response was assessed by examining all inflammatory cells at the tumour edge on diagnostic haematoxylin and eosin slides. Results: On univariate analysis, T stage (p < 0.001), grade (p = 0.044) and mGPS (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of cancer-specific survival. On multivariate analysis, mGPS (hazard ratio 8.64, 95% confidence interval 3.5–21.29, p < 0.001) was the only significant independent predictor of cancer-specific survival. Conclusion: A preoperative systemic inflammatory response as measured by the mGPS is an independent predictor of poor cancer-specific survival in renal cancer in patients undergoing potential curative resection.

Urinary ultrasonography in screening incidental renal cell carcinoma: is it obligatory?

To analyze the rate of incidental renal carcinoma in patients with no upper urinary tract symptoms (UUTS) or hematuria depending on the sonography reports and medical records of the patients and to determine whether there is a need for routine US screening for RCC. We reviewed the reports of 18.686 consecutive urinary US examinations performed in our department between March 1995 and February 2008. A total of 18.203 urinary US examinations formed the study group. Patients with UUTS, patients with presumed diagnosis of or previously diagnosed renal masses, and patients with hematuria were excluded. There were 11,654 male and 6,549 female patients with a mean age of 55 years. Ultrasonography revealed incidental solid renal masses in 0.44% of the patients. Seven of the 81 patients with incidentally detected renal masses could not be followed up. Thirty-eight of the remaining 74 patients had masses that were proved to be benign with other imaging techniques. Thirty-six of the 74 patients with preoperative diagnosis of renal tumor underwent surgery, and the histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all patients. One patient expired in the postoperative 18th month due to the progression of the metastatic disease. The rest of the patients with malignant renal tumor are disease free and are still under follow-up. The rate of incidental renal cancer in patients without UUTS is found to be 0.20%. We believe that scanning for incidental renal masses is not obligatory except for the patients with symptoms suggestive of renal carcinoma.

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for suspected renal cell carcinoma in dialysis-dependent patients

ObjectivesTo characterize the treatment and outcomes of laparoscopic nephrectomy for suspected renal cancer in patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure. Laparoscopic nephrectomy is currently an accepted modality in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma in many patients. However, the indications for the minimally invasive approach in patients with renal dysfunction are unclear. End-stage renal disease has multiple manifestations associated with increased operative morbidity that are potentially amplified during laparoscopy. MethodsWe reviewed our single-center experience for performing laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with renal failure. Of patients receiving dialysis and having a kidney removed laparoscopically, 7 underwent the operation for suspected renal carcinoma because of a solid mass on imaging. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations were reviewed. ResultsOf the 7 patients, 5 (71%) underwent successful removal of the kidney by laparoscopy. The amount of blood loss (120 mL) and the median time to discharge after surgery (3 days) were comparable to published data and our experience in patients with normal renal function; however, the operative time (mean 294 minutes) was longer. No recurrences had been detected at the last follow-up examination (median 21 months, range 18 to 51). Despite meticulous attention to perioperative and anesthetic considerations, two complications were observed—ileus and necrotizing fasciitis of the flank. ConclusionsPure laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal malignancy is feasible in patients with end-stage renal failure. However, this population is at increased risk of complications, despite maintaining the advantages of reduced blood loss and shorter hospitalization. The decision to proceed with laparoscopy and the selection of the specific surgical approach (transperitoneal or retroperitoneal) should be based on both surgeon experience and patient factors. In addition, careful preoperative preparation and intraoperative anesthetic management are crucial.

Renal cell cancer: incidence of hemorrhage on MR images in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

This study describes the occurrence of hemorrhage in renal cancer in patients with chronic renal insufficiency as shown on MR images. Thirteen consecutive patients with chronic renal insufficiency who had histologically proven renal cancer and underwent MRI at 1.5 T were entered in the study. MR examinations included spoiled gradient echo (SGE) and T1-weighted fat-suppressed imaging pre- and postgadolinium administration. All renal cancers were well shown on MR images and were most clearly depicted on postgadolinium T1-weighted fat-suppressed images. Tumors in 12 of 13 patients had regions of high signal intensity on precontrast T1-weighted images. Histology demonstrated intratumoral hemorrhage in all 12 of these patients. Four hemorrhagic tumors were largely cystic on imaging studies. One of these cancers altered in appearance from largely cystic with extensive hemorrhage to largely solid with substantial enhancement after a 2.5-year interval. Renal cancers demonstrated minimal enhancement (11 patients) on early postgadolinium images and were minimally enhanced on delayed images in 10 of 13 tumors. Two renal cancers demonstrated intense enhancement. Renal cancers are well shown on MR images in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Because of the common occurrence of hemorrhage into renal cancers in patients with renal insufficiency, caution should be exercised when evaluating hemorrhagic cystic lesions in these patients.