Stage I Renal Cell Cancer
Stage II Renal Cell Cancer
Stage III Renal Cell Cancer
Stage IV and Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of stage I renal cell cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy, simple nephrectomy, or partial nephrectomy).
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms in patients who cannot have surgery.
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I renal cell cancer ¹.

Treatment of stage II renal cell cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy).
• Surgery (nephrectomy), before or after radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms in patients who cannot have surgery.
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II renal cell cancer ².

Treatment of stage III renal cell cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy). Blood vessels of the kidney and some lymph nodes may also be removed.
• Arterial embolization followed by surgery (radical nephrectomy).
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy.
• Surgery (nephrectomy) as palliative therapy.
• Radiation therapy before or after surgery (radical nephrectomy).
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy following surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III renal cell cancer ³.

Treatment of stage IV and recurrent renal cell cancer may include the following:

• Targeted therapy alone or after biologic therapy.
• Biologic therapy alone or after surgery (nephrectomy) to reduce the size of the tumor.
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Surgery (nephrectomy) as palliative therapy.
• Surgery (radical nephrectomy, with or without removal of cancer from other areas where it has spread).
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV renal cell cancer ⁴ and recurrent renal cell cancer ⁵.

Glossary Terms

The blocking of an artery by a clot of foreign material. This can be done as treatment to block the flow of blood to a tumor.

Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Agents used in biological therapy include monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and vaccines. These agents may also have a direct antitumor effect. Also called immunotherapy, biotherapy, biological response modifier therapy, and BRM therapy.

A tube through which the blood circulates in the body. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

One of a pair of organs in the abdomen. Kidneys remove waste from the blood (as urine), produce erythropoietin (a substance that stimulates red blood cell production), and play a role in blood pressure regulation.

A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

Surgery to remove a kidney or part of a kidney. In a partial nephrectomy, part of one kidney or a tumor is removed, but not an entire kidney. In a simple nephrectomy, one kidney is removed. In a radical nephrectomy, an entire kidney, nearby adrenal gland and lymph nodes, and other surrounding tissue are removed. In a bilateral nephrectomy, both kidneys are removed.

Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease, and at the end of life.

Surgery to remove part of one kidney or a kidney tumor, but not an entire kidney.

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out various activities.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

Surgery to remove an entire kidney, nearby adrenal gland and lymph nodes, and other surrounding tissue.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.

The most common type of kidney cancer. It begins in the lining of the renal tubules in the kidney. The renal tubules filter the blood and produce urine. Also called hypernephroma.

Surgery to remove one kidney.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

The tumor is 7 centimeters or smaller and is found in the kidney only. Also called stage I kidney cancer.

The tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and is found in the kidney only. Also called stage II kidney cancer.

Cancer is found in (1) the kidney and in 1 nearby lymph node; or (2) an adrenal gland or in the layer of fatty tissue around the kidney, and may be found in 1 nearby lymph node; or (3) the main blood vessels of the kidney and may be found in 1 nearby lymph node. Also called stage III kidney cancer.

Cancer has spread (1) beyond the layer of fatty tissue around the kidney and may be found in 1 nearby lymph node; or (2) to 2 or more nearby lymph nodes; or (3) to other organs, such as the bowel, pancreas, or lungs, and may be found in nearby lymph nodes. Also called stage IV kidney cancer.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances, such as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.