Concurrent renal cell carcinoma and hematologic malignancies: Nine case reports

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Concurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hematologic malignancies (HM) are infrequently observed in clinical practice.
• Existing literature suggests a predominance of male patients and lymphoid HM, often diagnosed before or concurrently with RCC.

Observation:

• This case series details 9 patients with concurrent RCC and HM, noting varied diagnosis timings (RCC first, simultaneous, or HM first).
• Unique cases included 3 simultaneous cancers, chemotherapy-induced RCC remission, and immunotherapy response in renal leiomyosarcoma.

Findings:

• The co-occurrence of RCC and HM may involve immune system dysregulation, where one malignancy potentially predisposes to the other via immunomodulatory effects.
• Hematologic malignancies can be mistaken for kidney cancer metastasis, necessitating lymph node biopsies for accurate diagnosis.

Implications:

• Long-term medical surveillance is crucial for patients diagnosed with either RCC or HM.
• Awareness of the male predominance and lymphoid HM association in concurrent cases is important for clinical management.