Kidney Cancer

Surgery

• Partial Nephrectomy: Only the tumor or affected part of the kidney is removed. This is often used when the cancer is small or confined to one area.
• Radical Nephrectomy: Removal of the entire kidney, and sometimes surrounding tissues or lymph nodes. This is the standard treatment for larger tumors.
• Cryoablation and Radiofrequency Ablation: For patients who cannot undergo surgery, these methods freeze or heat the tumor to destroy cancerous cells.

Radiation Therapy

External Beam Radiation: High-energy beams are directed at the cancerous cells from outside the body. Radiation therapy is usually used when surgery isn't an option, or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Targeted Therapy

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors: These drugs block the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Examples include sunitinib and pazopanib.
• mTOR Inhibitors: Drugs like everolimus target the mTOR protein, which plays a role in cancer cell growth.
• Targeted therapy is often used for advanced kidney cancer or if cancer has spread beyond the kidneys.

Immunotherapy

• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab work by enhancing the body's immune response to fight cancer. These therapies block proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells.
• Cytokines: Older forms of immunotherapy, including interleukin-2, stimulate the immune system to destroy cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy is typically used in advanced stages or in combination with other treatments.

Ablation Therapy

• Cryoablation: A probe inserted through the skin freezes and kills the cancer cells.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: A needle inserted into the tumor heats and destroys the cancerous tissue.
• These minimally invasive procedures are effective for smaller tumors or for patients who cannot have surgery.

Chemotherapy

While not commonly used for kidney cancer, chemotherapy may be an option for rare types like transitional cell carcinoma.