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| Disease found: | Urothelial Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter |
| Current as of: | October 8, 2024 |
| Disease Overview: | Rare cancer from the transitional layer of the bladder. Presents with hematuria, commonly among people with risk factors such as cigarette smoking, genetics, painkiller abuse, excessive coffee drinking, and use of cyclophosphamide. Thought to be caused by a loss of a tumor suppressor gene like p53, p19, or p16. |
| Signs and Symptoms: | Hematuria, lower back pain, pain with urination, unexplained weight loss. |
| Diagnosis: | Urine and blood tests for kidney, liver, and bladder function. Assess for infection and obtain CT urogram or uroscopy to visualize cancerous mass. |
| Treatment: | Radical nephroureterectomy is the most common form of treatment. Chemotherapy may be used for higher grade tumor. Jelmyto is an FDA-approved treatment for low-grade urether transitional cell cancers. |
| Clinical Management: | Staging and biopsy of cancer will determine need for chemotherapy and long-term management. |
| Referral: | Urologists and oncologist referral for surgery, chemotherapy, and long-term monitoring of recurrence. Referral to Medical Genetics Department, if available. Initial virtual care is also available through organizations like TeleRare Health. |
| Clinical Trials: | Many clinical trials are currently recruiting. |