Renal Cell Carcinoma: American Indians, Metabolism, Metastasis, and Treatment

Renal cell cancer disproportionately affects American Indians/Alaskan Natives. This same population is also not included in published clinical trials and not reported on in published renal cancer clinical trials. Renal cancer treatment is needed that not only implements targeting new pathways or combinations of pathways that have not been targeted prior and integrating with traditional health. Almost 2/3 of American Indian’s report utilizing traditional medicine and cancer patients from this population report seeking traditional healers. New potential interventions should be created that combine traditional health with western medicine focused on metabolic pathways. Blocking in one treatment HIF1 and SIRT2; a separate treatment blocking VEGF and production of interleukins 6 and 8; and increasing BPTES to decrease glutamine; as well as adding in traditional aspects of health such as sweat ceremonies and usage of sage for example. Combining both western medicine and traditional health could increase the quality of life and outcomes for this population