Treatment of Recurrent Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Robert J. Motzer, MD
Attending Physician

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Recurrent renal cell cancer means that cancer comes back after the treatment for your primary tumor and usually spreads to distant places (sites) in your body.

Unfortunately, recurrent renal cell cancer is usually not curable with currently available standard therapies. Most often, the goal of treatment is to give you longer life with fewer symptoms. Torisel™ (temsirolimus) has been approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma based on its ability to extend survival in patients with stage IV or recurrent renal cell cancer. Participating in clinical trials that evaluate new or experimental therapies is an option for some patients.

Surgery for Metastatic Disease

Surgery may be an important treatment for your recurrent renal cell cancer for several reasons. Some people may have long-term disease-free survival after metastatic cancers (cancers that spread outside of the primary tumor). Also, other currently available treatments are not very effective.

Some people with just one or a few distant metastases may survive for a long time with radical nephrectomy and surgery for the metastatic cancer. Up to 50 percent of patients survive 5 years or more after radical nephrectomy and surgery that removes a solitary lung cancer.

Long-term survival also occurs after surgery for metastases from other sites, such as the brain and bone. In some cases, second and third surgical procedures may be effective in controlling recurrences and prolonging survival time. Surgical cure is more likely to occur if your metastatic disease develops long after your first diagnosis.

External Beam Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is an option for controlling symptoms of local recurrences or metastatic disease, especially for metastases to the brain or bone. For more information, go to Radiation Therapy for Renal Cell Cancer.

Strategies To Improve Treatment

Researchers are currently investigating new treatments for recurrent kidney cancer. Participation in trials of these treatments will lead to improved therapies. If you wish to participate in a clinical trial, please talk to your doctor about the potential benefits and side effects of the treatment.

Torisel™ (temsirolimus) has been shown to improve survival time compared with alpha interferon and to stop or slow down, at least temporarily, cancer progression in patients with stage IV or recurrent (returning) renal cell cancer. Like all powerful drugs against cancer, it has side effects and necessary precautions that you should review with your doctor if this treatment is under consideration.

Supportive Care

Supportive care refers to therapies that help to prevent and control the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Side effects not only cause patients discomfort, but also may prevent the optimal delivery of therapy at its planned dose and schedule. To achieve optimal outcomes from treatment and improve quality of life, it is important to manage effectively the side effects that result from cancer and its treatment.