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.

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.

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.

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 and recurrent renal cell cancer.

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