What is nephroblastom?
Nephroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in the kidneys. This cancer is also called WILMS tumor and is the most common type of kidney cancer that develops in children. In the 1950s and 1960s, most children with nephroblastoma had a very poor prognosis, but cancer treatment has proceeded significantly over the decades. The level of success of WILMS tumor treatment is now approximately 90%, mainly because of the practice of a combination of surgery with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Nephroblastoma has a global incidence of 0.8 cases per 100,000 people. Most children with cancer are diagnosed at the age of three and four years. Children usually have tumors in only one kidney; In approximately 6% of cases, tumors grow in both kidney. Cancer development is usually spontaneous; Sometimes, however, it may occur as part of the syndrome, such as congenital aniridia, in which the risk of Wilms tumor is associated with eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma. Sensitivity to this type of cancer can also be genetically inherited,Although increased susceptibility does not guarantee that the individual develops cancer.
Many types of cancer are caused by mutations in tumor suppressor genes. These are genes that reduce the risk that cells are changing cancer. Many different genes with a wide range of functions can act as a tumor suppressing genes. The gene that is associated with nephroblastoma is active during the development of the kidneys of the fetus, but after birth is relatively inactive. The mutation in this gene promotes cellular changes that can cause WILMS tumor development.
Non -nephroblastoma symptoms are abdominal pain and the presence of lump in the abdomen. Many children also have fever, anemia or blood in the urine. Possible complications include metastases that are commonly found in one lung. In addition, the WILMS tumor is threatened by tearing, which can lead to kidney bleeding and dispersion of cancer cells in the abdomen.
children with diagnosis of Wilms tumors usuale are subject to surgical procedure to remove the tumor or, if necessary, the entire kidney. This surgery is followed by chemotherapy to ensure that all cancer cells are killed. In rare cases, radiation therapy can be used instead as a subsequent treatment. In general, however, the established protocol for the treatment of this cancer is surgery and chemotherapy with a specific set of drugs. Chemotherapy The most commonly used to treat cancer are doxorubicin, vincristin and dactinomycin®.