Other Therapies

Radiation Therapy

Kidney tumors are largely radioresistant. Radiation therapy is sometimes used palliatively to control bleeding or pain from the primary. Radiotherapy is also very useful in palliating bone and central nervous system metastases.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic agents have, to date, not been too successful as adjuvants to surgical or radiotherapeutic treatment.

Transitional cell tumors of renal pelvis and ureter may be treated with chemotherapy, but studies are limited and results do not show a clear advantage to using chemotherapy.

Under clinical evaluation: M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatin).

Hormones

Progesterone and testosterone for metastatic renal adenocarcinoma

  • Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate)
  • Megace (megestrol acetate)

Biological Response Modifiers

  • Alpha interferon (under clinical evaluation)
  • Interleukin-2
  • LAK cells (lymphokine-activated killer lymphocytes)

Other Treatment

Tumor embolization as a palliative therapy.