Standard Treatment Options

Standard Treatment Options

The primary treatment for renal cell carcinoma includes total surgical removal of the kidney and associated lymph nodes. There is a report of an initial experience with partial nephrectomy in selected patients to preserve renal function with an outcome comparable to total nephrectomy.[1] There is no evidence that adjuvant therapy is of benefit in children with lymph-node positive, nonmetastatic disease.[2] Treatment of unresectable metastatic disease is presently unsatisfactory but usually includes the use of immune system modulators such as interferon-alpha and interleukin-2.[3] Rare spontaneous regression of pulmonary metastasis may occur with resection of the primary tumor. (Refer to the PDQ summary on adult Renal Cell Cancer Treatment ¹ for more information.)

References

1. Cook A, Lorenzo AJ, Salle JL, et al.: Pediatric renal cell carcinoma: single institution 25-year case series and initial experience with partial nephrectomy. J Urol 175 (4): 1456-60; discussion 1460, 2006.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Geller JI, Dome JS: Local lymph node involvement does not predict poor outcome in pediatric renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 101 (7): 1575-83, 2004.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Fyfe G, Fisher RI, Rosenberg SA, et al.: Results of treatment of 255 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received high-dose recombinant interleukin-2 therapy. J Clin Oncol 13 (3): 688-96, 1995.  [PUBMED Abstract]