Purpose of This PDQ Summary
General Information
Cellular Classification
Stage Information

TNM Definitions AJCC Stage Groupings

Treatment Option Overview
Stage I Renal Cell Cancer

Current Clinical Trials

Stage II Renal Cell Cancer

Current Clinical Trials

Stage III Renal Cell Cancer

Current Clinical Trials

Stage IV and Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer

Local Therapy Cytokine Therapy Antiangiogenic Therapy Chemotherapy Treatment Options Current Clinical Trials

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Changes to This Summary (05/22/2008)
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Purpose of This PDQ Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of renal cell cancer. This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board ¹.

Information about the following is included in this summary:

• Prognosis.
• Pathology.
• Cellular classification.
• Staging.
• Treatment options by cancer stage.

This summary is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

Some of the reference citations in the summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system ² in developing its level-of-evidence designations. Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options are described as either “standard” or “under clinical evaluation.” These classifications should not be used as a basis for reimbursement determinations.

This summary is available in a patient version ³, written in less technical language, and in Spanish ⁴.

General Information

Note: Estimated new cases and deaths from renal cell (kidney and renal pelvis) cancer in the United States in 2008:[1]

• New cases: 54,390.
• Deaths: 13,010.

Renal cell cancer, also called renal adenocarcinoma, or hypernephroma, can often be cured if it is diagnosed and treated when still localized to the kidney and to the immediately surrounding tissue. The probability of cure is directly related to the stage or degree of tumor dissemination. Even when regional lymphatics or blood vessels are involved with tumor, a significant number of patients can achieve prolonged survival and probable cure.[2] When distant metastases are present, disease-free survival is poor; however, occasional selected patients will survive after surgical resection of all known tumor. Because a majority of patients are diagnosed when the tumor is still relatively localized and amenable to surgical removal, approximately 40% of all patients with renal cancer survive for 5 years. Occasionally, patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease may exhibit indolent courses lasting several years. Late tumor recurrence many years after initial treatment also occasionally occurs.

Renal cell cancer is one of the few tumors in which well-documented cases of spontaneous tumor regression in the absence of therapy exist, but this occurs very rarely and may not lead to long-term survival. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment of this disease. Even in patients with disseminated tumor, locoregional forms of therapy may play an important role in palliating symptoms of the primary tumor or of ectopic hormone production. Systemic therapy has demonstrated only limited effectiveness.

(Refer to the PDQ summaries on Wilms Tumor Treatment ⁵ and Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Treatment ⁶ for more information.)

References

1. American Cancer Society.: Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society, 2008. Also available online. ⁷ Last accessed October 1, 2008. 
   
   
2. Sene AP, Hunt L, McMahon RF, et al.: Renal carcinoma in patients undergoing nephrectomy: analysis of survival and prognostic factors. Br J Urol 70 (2): 125-34, 1992.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

Cellular Classification

Approximately 85% of renal cell cancers are adenocarcinomas, and most of those are of proximal tubular origin. Most of the remainder are transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Treatment ⁶ for more information.) Adenocarcinomas may be separated into clear cell and granular cell carcinomas; however, the two cell types may occur together in some tumors. Some investigators have found that granular cell tumors have a worse prognosis, but this finding is not universal. Distinguishing between well-differentiated renal adenocarcinomas and renal adenomas can be difficult. The diagnosis is usually made arbitrarily on the basis of size of the mass, but size alone should not influence the treatment approach, since metastases can occur with lesions as small as 0.5 centimeter.

Stage Information

The staging system for renal cell cancer is based on the degree of tumor spread beyond the kidney.[1-3] Involvement of blood vessels may not be a poor prognostic sign if the tumor is otherwise confined to the substance of the kidney. Abnormal liver function test results may be caused by a paraneoplastic syndrome that is reversible with tumor removal, and these types of results do not necessarily represent metastatic disease. Except when computed tomography (CT) examination is equivocal or when iodinated contrast material is contraindicated, CT scanning is as good as or better than magnetic resonance imaging for detecting renal masses.[4]

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has designated staging by TNM classification.[5]

Primary tumor (T)

• TX: Primary tumor cannot be assessed
• T0: No evidence of primary tumor
• T1: Tumor 7 cm or less in greatest dimension and limited to the kidney
  • T1a: Tumor 4 cm or less in greatest dimension and limited to the kidney
  • T1b: Tumor larger than 4 cm but 7 cm or less in greatest dimension and limited to the kidney
• T2: Tumor larger than 7 cm in greatest dimension and limited to the kidney
• T3: Tumor extends into major veins or invades adrenal gland or perinephric tissues but not beyond Gerota fascia
  • T3a: Tumor directly invades adrenal gland or perirenal and/or renal sinus fat but not beyond Gerota fascia
  • T3b: Tumor grossly extends into the renal vein or its segmental (i.e., muscle-containing) branches, or it extends into the vena cava below the diaphragm
  • T3c: Tumor grossly extends into the vena cava above the diaphragm or invades the wall of the vena cava
• T4: Tumor invades beyond Gerota fascia

Regional lymph nodes (N)*

• NX: Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
• N0: No regional lymph node metastasis
• N1: Metastasis in a single regional lymph node
• N2: Metastasis in more than one regional lymph node

* [Note: Laterality does not affect the N classification.]

 [Note: If a lymph node dissection is performed, then pathologic evaluation would ordinarily include at least eight nodes.]

Distant metastasis (M)

• MX: Distant metastasis cannot be assessed
• M0: No distant metastasis
• M1: Distant metastasis

Stage I

• T1, N0, M0

Stage II

• T2, N0, M0

Stage III

• T1, N1, M0
• T2, N1, M0
• T3, N0, M0
• T3, N1, M0
• T3a, N0, M0
• T3a, N1, M0
• T3b, N0, M0
• T3b, N1, M0
• T3c, N0, M0
• T3c, N1, M0

Stage IV

• T4, N0, M0
• T4, N1, M0
• Any T, N2, M0
• Any T, any N, M1

References

1. Bassil B, Dosoretz DE, Prout GR Jr: Validation of the tumor, nodes and metastasis classification of renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 134 (3): 450-4, 1985.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Golimbu M, Joshi P, Sperber A, et al.: Renal cell carcinoma: survival and prognostic factors. Urology 27 (4): 291-301, 1986.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Robson CJ, Churchill BM, Anderson W: The results of radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 101 (3): 297-301, 1969.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. Consensus conference. Magnetic resonance imaging. JAMA 259 (14): 2132-8, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
5. Kidney. In: American Joint Committee on Cancer.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 6th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2002, pp 323-5. 
   
   

Treatment Option Overview

Current treatment cures more than 50% of the patients with stage I disease, but results in patients with stage IV disease are very poor. Thus, all patients with newly diagnosed renal cell cancer can appropriately be considered candidates for clinical trials when possible.

Stage I Renal Cell Cancer

Stage I renal cell cancer is defined by the following clinical stage grouping:

• T1, N0, M0

Surgical resection is the accepted, often curative, therapy for stage I renal cell cancer. Resection may be simple or radical. The latter operation includes removal of the kidney, adrenal gland, perirenal fat, and Gerota fascia, with or without a regional lymph node dissection. Some, but not all, surgeons believe the radical operation yields superior results. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or arterial embolization can provide palliation. In patients with bilateral stage I neoplasms (concurrent or subsequent), bilateral partial nephrectomy or unilateral partial nephrectomy with contralateral radical nephrectomy, when technically feasible, may be a preferred alternative to bilateral nephrectomy with dialysis or transplantation.[1] Increasing evidence suggests that a partial nephrectomy is curative in selected cases. A pathologist should examine the gross specimen as well as the frozen section from the parenchymal margin of excision.[2]

Standard treatment options:

1. Radical nephrectomy.[3]
2. Simple nephrectomy.[3]
3. Partial nephrectomy (selected patients).[1,3]
4. EBRT (palliative).[3]
5. Arterial embolization (palliative).[3,4]
6. Clinical trials.

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 ⁸. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site ⁹.

References

1. Novick AC, Streem S, Montie JE, et al.: Conservative surgery for renal cell carcinoma: a single-center experience with 100 patients. J Urol 141 (4): 835-9, 1989.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Thrasher JB, Robertson JE, Paulson DF: Expanding indications for conservative renal surgery in renal cell carcinoma. Urology 43 (2): 160-8, 1994.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. Swanson DA, Wallace S, Johnson DE: The role of embolization and nephrectomy in the treatment of metastatic renal carcinoma. Urol Clin North Am 7 (3): 719-30, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

Stage II Renal Cell Cancer

Stage II renal cell cancer is defined by the following clinical stage grouping:

• T2, N0, M0

Radical resection is the accepted, often curative, therapy for stage II renal cell cancer. The operation includes removal of the kidney, adrenal gland, perirenal fat, and Gerota fascia, with or without a regional lymph node dissection.[1] Lymphadenectomy is commonly employed, but its effectiveness has not been definitively proven. External-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has been given before or after nephrectomy without conclusive evidence that this improves survival when compared with the results of surgery alone; however, it may be of benefit in selected patients with more extensive tumors. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, arterial embolization can provide palliation.

Standard treatment options:

1. Radical nephrectomy.[2]
2. Nephrectomy before or after EBRT (selected patients).[2]
3. Partial nephrectomy (selected patients).[2]
4. EBRT (palliative).[2]
5. Arterial embolization (palliative).
6. Clinical trials.

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 ¹⁰. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site ⁹.

References

1. Phillips E, Messing EM: Role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Urology 41 (1): 9-15, 1993.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

Stage III Renal Cell Cancer

Stage III renal cell cancer is defined by the following clinical stage groupings:

• T1, N1, M0
• T2, N1, M0
• T3, N0, M0
• T3, N1, M0
• T3a, N0, M0
• T3a, N1, M0
• T3b, N0, M0
• T3b, N1, M0
• T3c, N0, M0
• T3c, N1, M0

Treatment information for patients whose disease has the following classification:

• T3a, N0, M0

Radical resection is the accepted, often curative, therapy for stage III renal cell cancer. The operation includes removal of the kidney, adrenal gland, perirenal fat, and Gerota fascia, with or without a regional lymph node dissection.[1] Lymphadenectomy is commonly employed, but its effectiveness has not been definitively proven. External-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has been given before or after nephrectomy without conclusive evidence that this improves survival when compared with the results of surgery alone; however, it may be of benefit in selected patients with more extensive tumors. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, arterial embolization can provide palliation. In patients with bilateral stage T3a neoplasms (concurrent or subsequent), bilateral partial nephrectomy or unilateral partial nephrectomy with contralateral radical nephrectomy, when technically feasible, may be a preferred alternative to bilateral nephrectomy with dialysis or transplantation.[2]

Treatment information for patients whose disease has the following classification:

• T3b, N0, M0

Radical resection is the accepted, often curative, therapy for this stage of renal cell cancer. The operation includes removal of the kidney, adrenal gland, perirenal fat, and Gerota fascia, with or without a regional lymph node dissection. Lymphadenectomy is commonly employed, but its effectiveness has not been definitively proven. Surgery is extended to remove the entire renal vein and caval thrombus and a portion of the vena cava as necessary.[3] EBRT has been given before or after nephrectomy without conclusive evidence that this improves survival when compared with the results of surgery alone; however, it may be of benefit in selected patients with more extensive tumors. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, arterial embolization can provide palliation. In patients with stage T3b neoplasms who manifest concurrent or subsequent renal cell carcinoma in the contralateral kidney, a partial nephrectomy, when technically feasible, may be a preferred alternative to bilateral nephrectomy with dialysis or transplantation.[2,4,5]

Treatment information for patients whose disease has the following classifications:

• T1, N1, M0
• T2, N1, M0
• T3, N1, M0
• T3a, N1, M0
• T3b, N1, M0
• T3c, N1, M0

This stage of renal cell cancer is curable with surgery in a small minority of cases. A radical nephrectomy and lymph node dissection is necessary. The value of preoperative and postoperative EBRT has not been demonstrated, but EBRT may be used for palliation in patients who are not candidates for surgery. Arterial embolization of the tumor with gelfoam or other materials may be employed preoperatively to reduce blood loss at nephrectomy or for palliation in patients with inoperable disease.

Standard treatment options:

1. Radical nephrectomy with renal vein and, as necessary, vena caval resection (for T3b tumors).[3] Radical nephrectomy with lymph node dissection.
2. Preoperative embolization and radical nephrectomy.[6,7]
3. EBRT for palliation.[6]
4. Tumor embolization for palliation.[7]
5. Palliative nephrectomy.
6. Preoperative or postoperative EBRT and radical nephrectomy.[6]
7. Clinical trials involving adjuvant interferon-alpha.

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 ¹¹. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site ⁹.

References

1. Phillips E, Messing EM: Role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Urology 41 (1): 9-15, 1993.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Novick AC, Streem S, Montie JE, et al.: Conservative surgery for renal cell carcinoma: a single-center experience with 100 patients. J Urol 141 (4): 835-9, 1989.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Hatcher PA, Anderson EE, Paulson DF, et al.: Surgical management and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma invading the vena cava. J Urol 145 (1): 20-3; discussion 23-4, 1991.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. deKernion JB: Management of renal adenocarcinoma. In: deKernion JB, Paulson DF, eds.: Genitourinary Cancer Management. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea and Febiger, 1987, pp 187-217. 
   
   
5. Angermeier KW, Novick AC, Streem SB, et al.: Nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma with venous involvement. J Urol 144 (6): 1352-5, 1990.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
6. deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
7. Swanson DA, Wallace S, Johnson DE: The role of embolization and nephrectomy in the treatment of metastatic renal carcinoma. Urol Clin North Am 7 (3): 719-30, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

Stage IV and Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer

Stage IV renal cell cancer is defined by the following stage groupings:

• T4, N0, M0
• T4, N1, M0
• Any T, N2, M0
• Any T, any N, M1

The prognosis for any treated renal cell cancer patient with progressing, recurring, or relapsing disease is poor, regardless of cell type or stage. Almost all patients with stage IV renal cell cancer are incurable. The question and selection of further treatment depends on many factors, including prior treatment and site of recurrence as well as individual patient considerations. Carefully selected patients may benefit from surgical resection of localized metastatic disease, particularly if they have had a prolonged, disease-free interval since their primary therapy. Because of early reports of success, progestational agents have been administered to patients with metastatic renal cell cancer, but the response rates have been disappointingly low; therefore, no rationale currently exists for their use as anticancer therapy. Progestational agents may, however, offer subjective palliation.

Tumor embolization, external-beam radiation therapy, and nephrectomy can aid in the palliation of symptoms caused by the primary tumor or related ectopic hormone production. Minimal evidence suggests that nephrectomy induces regression of distant metastases; therefore, a nephrectomy performed with the hope that it will be followed by spontaneous regression of metastases is not advised. Spontaneous regressions occasionally occur. A prospective surveillance series of 73 patients with advanced renal cell cancer demonstrated apparent temporary objective regression in five patients (7%) without nephrectomy or any therapy.[1] Selected patients with solitary or a limited number of distant metastases can achieve prolonged survival with nephrectomy and surgical resection of the metastases. Even patients with brain metastases had similar results.[2] The likelihood of achieving therapeutic benefit with this approach appears enhanced in patients with a long disease-free interval between the initial nephrectomy and the development of metastatic disease. Cytoreductive nephrectomy in selected patients who will receive postoperative interferon-α may convey a modest impact on survival. (See the Cytokine therapy ¹² section below.)

Cytokine therapy has been shown to induce objective responses and have a modest impact on survival in selected patients. Interferon-alpha has approximately a 15% objective response rate in appropriately selected individuals.[3] In general, these patients have nonbulky pulmonary and/or soft tissue metastases with excellent performance status (PS) ratings of zero or one, according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group rating scale, and the patients show no weight loss. The interferon-alpha doses used in studies reporting good response rates have been in an intermediate range (6–20 million units 3 times weekly). A Cochrane analysis of six randomized trials, with a total of 963 patients, indicated a hazard rate (HR) for survival of 0.78 (confidence interval [CI], 0.67–0.90) or a weighted average improvement in survival of 2.6 months.[3][Level of evidence: 1iiA]

Two randomized studies suggest that some patients may benefit from initial cytoreductive nephrectomy prior to the administration of interferon-alpha.[4,5] In the larger study, 246 patients were randomly assigned to either undergo a nephrectomy followed by interferon or receive interferon alone.[4] The median overall survival (OS) was 11.1 months when the primary tumor was removed first (95% CI, 9.2–16.5) compared with 8.1 months (95% CI, 5.4–9.5; P = .05). In a smaller study, 85 patients with identical eligibility criteria and treatment were randomly assigned. Patients who received nephrectomy prior to interferon-alpha had a median OS of 17 months compared with an OS of 7 months in patients receiving interferon-alpha alone (HR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31–0.94; P = .03;).[5] Patients were highly selected with characteristics of clear cell carcinoma, small tumors, and a PS of zero to one; they were also considered to be candidates for postoperative immunotherapy.[5][Level of evidence: 1iiA]

Patients who received interleukin-2 (IL-2), with or without lymphokine-activated killer lymphocytes, appeared to have a similar overall response rate to those who received interferon-alpha, but approximately 5% of the appropriately selected patients had durable complete remissions.[6-10] Combinations of IL-2 and interferon have been studied but have not been shown to be better than high-dose IL-2 alone.[11] The optimum dose of IL-2 is unknown. High-dose therapy appears to be associated with higher response rates but with more toxic effects. Low-dose inpatient regimens can retain efficacy with fewer toxic effects, especially hypotension.[12] Outpatient subcutaneous administration has also demonstrated responses with acceptable toxic effects.[13]

Preliminary reports of agents targeting the angiogenesis pathway appear promising. Sorafenib, an orally available multikinase inhibitor (cRAF, bRAF, KIT FLT-3, VEGFT-2, VEGFR-3 and PDGFR-β), is approved for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.[14,15] In an international, multicenter randomized trial with the primary endpoints of progression-free survival and OS, 769 patients were stratified by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center prognostic risk category and by country and were randomly assigned to receive either sorafenib (400 mg b.i.d.) or a placebo. Approximately 82% of the patients had received prior IL-2 and/or interferon in both arms of the study. The median progression-free survival for patients randomly assigned to sorafenib was 167 days, compared with 84 days for patients randomly assigned to placebo (P <.001). The estimated HR for the risk of progression with sorafenib compared with a placebo was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.35–0.55). Results for OS are not yet available.[14][Level of evidence: 1iDiii]

A randomized, double-blind phase II trial compared two doses of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody that acts against vascular endothelial growth factor, with placebo in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer.[16] Approximately 93% of patients had received prior IL-2 therapy. Patients receiving high-dose bevacizumab had an increase in median time-to-progression compared with placebo (4.8 vs. 2.5 months; HR = 2.55; P = .001). No significant difference was observed in OS.[16][Level of evidence: 1iDii]

Early reports of other small molecule inhibitors of the angiogenesis pathway, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors of multiple receptors such as sunitinib, also suggest antitumor activity.[17] The exact mechanism is unknown. Sunitinib received accelerated approval by the Food and Drug Administration on the basis of partial response rates and duration of response rates derived from two single-arm, multicenter trials enrolling a total of 169 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma progressing after cytokine-based therapy. The first study showed an objective response rate (RR) of 25.5% (95% CI, 17.5–34.9); the second study had an RR of 36.5% (95% CI, 24.7–49.6).[18,19][Level of evidence: 2Div] Data from several prospective, randomized trials with bevacizumab or sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cancer are not yet available.

Responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy generally have not exceeded 10% for any regimen that has been studied in adequate numbers of patients.

Because of the lack of curative therapy for metastatic disease and the promise of targeted therapies, patients should be considered for the many ongoing clinical trials testing single or combination therapies.

1. Sorafenib.[14]
2. Sunitinib.[15,17]
3. Bevacizumab.[16]
4. IL-2.[7,8,10,11]
5. Interferon-alpha.[1,20,21]
6. Palliative EBRT.
7. Palliative nephrectomy.[22]
8. Radical nephrectomy (for T4 lesions).[4,5]
9. Surgical excision of metastatic disease with radical nephrectomy (for selected M1 patients).[23]
10. Clinical trials of temsirolimus.[24]
11. Clinical trials.

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 ¹³ and recurrent renal cell cancer ¹⁴. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site ⁹.

References

1. Oliver RT, Nethersell AB, Bottomley JM: Unexplained spontaneous regression and alpha-interferon as treatment for metastatic renal carcinoma. Br J Urol 63 (2): 128-31, 1989.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Wroński M, Arbit E, Russo P, et al.: Surgical resection of brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma in 50 patients. Urology 47 (2): 187-93, 1996.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Coppin C, Porzsolt F, Awa A, et al.: Immunotherapy for advanced renal cell cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD001425, 2005.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. Flanigan RC, Salmon SE, Blumenstein BA, et al.: Nephrectomy followed by interferon alfa-2b compared with interferon alfa-2b alone for metastatic renal-cell cancer. N Engl J Med 345 (23): 1655-9, 2001.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
5. Mickisch GH, Garin A, van Poppel H, et al.: Radical nephrectomy plus interferon-alfa-based immunotherapy compared with interferon alfa alone in metastatic renal-cell carcinoma: a randomised trial. Lancet 358 (9286): 966-70, 2001.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
6. Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Muul LM, et al.: A progress report on the treatment of 157 patients with advanced cancer using lymphokine-activated killer cells and interleukin-2 or high-dose interleukin-2 alone. N Engl J Med 316 (15): 889-97, 1987.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
7. Fisher RI, Coltman CA Jr, Doroshow JH, et al.: Metastatic renal cancer treated with interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells. A phase II clinical trial. Ann Intern Med 108 (4): 518-23, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
8. Weiss GR, Margolin KA, Aronson FR, et al.: A randomized phase II trial of continuous infusion interleukin-2 or bolus injection interleukin-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer cells for advanced renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 10 (2): 275-81, 1992.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
9. Rosenberg SA, Yang JC, Topalian SL, et al.: Treatment of 283 consecutive patients with metastatic melanoma or renal cell cancer using high-dose bolus interleukin 2. JAMA 271 (12): 907-13, 1994 Mar 23-30.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
10. 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]
    
    
11. Atkins MB, Sparano J, Fisher RI, et al.: Randomized phase II trial of high-dose interleukin-2 either alone or in combination with interferon alfa-2b in advanced renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 11 (4): 661-70, 1993.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
12. Yang JC, Topalian SL, Parkinson D, et al.: Randomized comparison of high-dose and low-dose intravenous interleukin-2 for the therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: an interim report. J Clin Oncol 12 (8): 1572-6, 1994.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
13. Sleijfer DT, Janssen RA, Buter J, et al.: Phase II study of subcutaneous interleukin-2 in unselected patients with advanced renal cell cancer on an outpatient basis. J Clin Oncol 10 (7): 1119-23, 1992.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
14. Nexavar® [label information]. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 2006 Available online. ¹⁵ Last accessed July 21, 2008. 
    
    
15. Motzer RJ, Hutson TE, Tomczak P, et al.: Phase III randomized trial of sunitinib malate (SU11248) versus interferon-alfa (IFN-α) as first-line systemic therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 24 (Suppl 18): A-LBA3, 2006. 
    
    
16. Yang JC, Haworth L, Sherry RM, et al.: A randomized trial of bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody, for metastatic renal cancer. N Engl J Med 349 (5): 427-34, 2003.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
17. Sutent® [label information]. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 2006 Available online. ¹⁶ Last accessed July 21, 2008. 
    
    
18. Motzer RJ, Michaelson MD, Redman BG, et al.: Activity of SU11248, a multitargeted inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 24 (1): 16-24, 2006.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
19. Motzer RJ, Rini BI, Michaelson MD: Phase 2 trials of SU11248 show antitumor activity in second-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 23 (Suppl 16): A-4508, 380s, 2005. 
    
    
20. Krown SE: Interferon treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Current status and future prospects. Cancer 59 (3 Suppl): 647-51, 1987.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
21. Muss HB: The role of biological response modifiers in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Semin Oncol 15 (5 Suppl 5): 30-4, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
22. deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
23. Neves RJ, Zincke H, Taylor WF: Metastatic renal cell cancer and radical nephrectomy: identification of prognostic factors and patient survival. J Urol 139 (6): 1173-6, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
24. Hudes G, et al.: A phase III, randomized, 3-arm study of temsirolimus (TEMSR) or interferon-alpha (IFN) or the combination of TEMSR + IFN in the treatment of first-line, poor-prognosis patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 24 (Suppl 18): LBA4, 2s, 2006. 
    
    

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6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

Search the NCI Web site

The NCI Web site ¹⁸ provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials, and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and their families. For a quick search, use our “Best Bets” search box in the upper right hand corner of each Web page. The results that are most closely related to your search term will be listed as Best Bets at the top of the list of search results.

There are also many other places to get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. Hospitals in your area may have information about local and regional agencies that have information on finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at home, and dealing with problems related to cancer treatment.

Find Publications

The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator ¹⁹. These materials can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), TTY at 1-800-332-8615.

Changes to This Summary (05/22/2008)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Editorial changes were made to this summary.

More Information

About PDQ

• PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database ²⁰.

  Full description of the NCI PDQ database.

Additional PDQ Summaries

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Adult Treatment ²¹

  Treatment options for adult cancers.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Pediatric Treatment ²²

  Treatment options for childhood cancers.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Supportive and Palliative Care ²³

  Side effects of cancer treatment, management of cancer-related complications and pain, and psychosocial concerns.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Screening/Detection (Testing for Cancer) ²⁴

  Tests or procedures that detect specific types of cancer.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Prevention ²⁵

  Risk factors and methods to increase chances of preventing specific types of cancer.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Genetics ²⁶

  Genetics of specific cancers and inherited cancer syndromes, and ethical, legal, and social concerns.

• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Complementary and Alternative Medicine ²⁷

  Information about complementary and alternative forms of treatment for patients with cancer.

Important:

This information is intended mainly for use by doctors and other health care professionals. If you have questions about this topic, you can ask your doctor, or call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Glossary Terms

Randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial with disease-free survival as an endpoint. See Levels of Evidence for Adult and Pediatric Cancer Treatment Studies (PDQ®) for more information.

Randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial with progression-free survival as an endpoint. See Levels of Evidence for Adult and Pediatric Cancer Treatment Studies (PDQ®) for more information.

Randomized, controlled, nonblinded clinical trial with total mortality as an endpoint. See Levels of Evidence for Adult and Pediatric Cancer Treatment Studies (PDQ®) for more information.

Nonrandomized, controlled clinical trial with tumor response rate as an endpoint. See Levels of Evidence for Adult and Pediatric Cancer Treatment Studies (PDQ®) for more information.