Types of Kidney Cancer We Treat
We diagnose and treat people with all types of kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (which accounts for 9 out of 10 kidney cancers) and urothelial carcinoma of the kidney. For people with renal cell cancers, we provide therapies for each subtype, such as:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (the most common subtype)
- Non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, including papillary renal cell cancer, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, and rare subtypes such as collecting duct renal cell carcinoma, multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma
- Unclassified renal cell carcinomas
Minimally Invasive Kidney Cancer Surgery
If you need kidney cancer surgery, you will have either your entire kidney removed (radical nephrectomy) or just the part of it containing your tumor (partial nephrectomy). With minimally invasive kidney surgery, including robotic partial nephrectomy, the surgeon can remove the tumor while preserving as much of your affected kidney—and its function—as possible. Your surgeon will let you what type of surgery is best for you.
Kidney Cancer Treatment with Extreme Heat or Cold
Some kidney tumors can be destroyed using thermal ablation without surgical kidney removal. This process uses extreme heat or cold to kill cancerous cells. These procedures are performed under anesthesia with image guidance.
- With cryoablation, a special needle inserts cold gas into the tumor to freeze and kill kidney cancer cells.
- During radiofrequency ablation, an electrical current runs through the needle, sending intense heat to destroy kidney cancer cells.
Medical Treatments for Kidney Cancer
Our medical oncologists may recommend systemic therapy for your kidney cancer. This includes targeted therapies or immunotherapy to treat kidney cancer and reduce the chance of it coming back. We offer immunotherapy in our Therapeutic Medicine Center, overseeing every aspect of your care to ensure it is as effective and comfortable as possible.
Targeted kidney cancer therapies
In recent decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved many targeted treatments for renal cell carcinoma. They aim the molecular abnormalities driving kidney cancer growth. These medications are associated with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy, and they are typically taken orally (by mouth), meaning you can take them at home. Examples include cabozantinib, pazopanib, axitinib, and lenvatinib. They may also be combined with other systemic therapies, such as immunotherapy. Your doctor will let you know if a targeted medication is an option for you.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapies boost the power of the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. The drugs pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab each work by taking the brakes off the immune response, allowing your immune system to find kidney cancer cells and kill them. These medications are given intravenously (by vein) and are used in people with advanced kidney cancer. Sometimes, they are used in combination with other targeted therapies, or they may be used alone. Your doctor will let you know which option is best for you.