Table of Contents Purpose of This PDQ Summary General Information Cellular Classification Stage Information
Treatment Option Overview Stage I Renal Cell Cancer Stage II Renal Cell Cancer Stage III Renal Cell Cancer Stage IV and Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer Get More Information From NCI Changes to This Summary (05/22/2008) More Information
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
-
American Cancer Society.: Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society, 2008. Also available online. 7 Last accessed October 1, 2008.
-
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]
TNM Definitions
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
AJCC Stage Groupings
Stage I
Stage II
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
-
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]
-
Golimbu M, Joshi P, Sperber A, et al.: Renal cell carcinoma: survival and prognostic factors. Urology 27 (4): 291-301, 1986.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Robson CJ, Churchill BM, Anderson W: The results of radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. J Urol 101 (3): 297-301, 1969.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Consensus conference. Magnetic resonance imaging. JAMA 259 (14): 2132-8, 1988.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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:
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:
- Radical nephrectomy.[3]
- Simple nephrectomy.[3]
- Partial nephrectomy (selected patients).[1,3]
- EBRT (palliative).[3]
- Arterial embolization (palliative).[3,4]
- Clinical trials.
Current 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
-
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]
-
Thrasher JB, Robertson JE, Paulson DF: Expanding indications for conservative renal surgery in renal cell carcinoma. Urology 43 (2): 160-8, 1994.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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:
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:
- Radical nephrectomy.[2]
- Nephrectomy before or after EBRT (selected
patients).[2]
- Partial nephrectomy (selected patients).[2]
- EBRT (palliative).[2]
- Arterial embolization (palliative).
- Clinical trials.
Current 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
-
Phillips E, Messing EM: Role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Urology 41 (1): 9-15, 1993.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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:
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:
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:
- Radical nephrectomy with renal vein and, as necessary, vena
caval resection (for T3b tumors).[3] Radical nephrectomy with lymph
node dissection.
- Preoperative embolization and radical nephrectomy.[6,7]
- EBRT for palliation.[6]
- Tumor embolization for palliation.[7]
- Palliative nephrectomy.
- Preoperative or postoperative EBRT and radical nephrectomy.[6]
- Clinical trials involving adjuvant interferon-alpha.
Current Clinical Trials
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
-
Phillips E, Messing EM: Role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Urology 41 (1): 9-15, 1993.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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]
-
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]
-
deKernion JB: Management of renal adenocarcinoma. In: deKernion JB, Paulson DF, eds.: Genitourinary Cancer Management. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea and Febiger, 1987, pp 187-217.
-
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]
-
deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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.
Local Therapy
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
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]
Antiangiogenic Therapy
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.
Chemotherapy
Responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy generally have not exceeded 10% for any regimen that has been studied in adequate numbers of patients.
Treatment Options
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.
- Sorafenib.[14]
- Sunitinib.[15,17]
- Bevacizumab.[16]
- IL-2.[7,8,10,11]
- Interferon-alpha.[1,20,21]
- Palliative EBRT.
- Palliative nephrectomy.[22]
- Radical nephrectomy (for T4 lesions).[4,5]
- Surgical excision of metastatic disease with radical nephrectomy (for
selected M1 patients).[23]
- Clinical trials of temsirolimus.[24]
- Clinical trials.
Current 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
-
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]
-
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]
-
Coppin C, Porzsolt F, Awa A, et al.: Immunotherapy for advanced renal cell cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD001425, 2005.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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]
-
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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
-
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]
-
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]
-
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]
-
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]
-
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]
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Nexavar® [label information]. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 2006 Available online. 15 Last accessed July 21, 2008.
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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.
-
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]
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Sutent® [label information]. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 2006 Available online. 16 Last accessed July 21, 2008.
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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]
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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.
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Krown SE: Interferon treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Current status and future prospects. Cancer 59 (3 Suppl): 647-51, 1987.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Muss HB: The role of biological response modifiers in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Semin Oncol 15 (5 Suppl 5): 30-4, 1988.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
deKernion JB, Berry D: The diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer 45 (7 Suppl): 1947-56, 1980.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
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]
-
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.
Get More Information From NCI
Call 1-800-4-CANCER
For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers with TTY equipment may call 1-800-332-8615. The call is free and a trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to answer your questions.
Chat online
The NCI's LiveHelp® 17 online chat service provides Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer.
Write to us
For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
- NCI Public Inquiries Office
- Suite 3036A
- 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
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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). |