Modern medicine for the treatment of renal cell cancer

A combination of therapies, such as surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and, in certain situations, radiation therapy, are routinely used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a type of kidney cancer. The cancer’s stage, the patient’s general condition, and other unique factors all influence the therapy option. For advanced RCC, some of the most popular therapies and medications are listed below:

Surgery: If the cancer is contained to the kidney and has not progressed far, surgery may be an option to remove the main tumour and maybe metastatic lesions. Nephrectomy, often known as kidney removal, may be carried out in some circumstances.

Drug: Drugs that specifically target chemicals involved in the growth and division of cancer cells are known as targeted treatments. For advanced RCC, typical targeted therapy include:

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): Commonly used medications include pazopanib (Votrient), axitinib (Inlyta), and sunitinib (Sutent). They function by obstructing the signals that encourage the development of blood vessels and cancer cell proliferation.

mTOR inhibitors: Drugs that target the mTOR pathway, which is involved in cell growth, include temsirolimus (Torisel) and everolimus (Afinitor).

Immunotherapy: Advanced RCC is increasingly being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda). They support the immune system’s ability to identify and combat cancer cells.

Combination Therapies: For a more potent course of treatment, some patients may get both targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Radiation therapy may be utilised to address pain or symptoms in cases when the cancer has spread to other organs or bones even though it is not a primary RCC treatment.

Traditional chemotherapy is not frequently used as a first-line therapy since it is typically less successful against RCC than other treatments. Chemotherapy may, nevertheless, be an option in some circumstances, such as when other treatments have failed.

Clinical Trials: Patients with advanced RCC may also be eligible for studies investigating brand-new therapies, including cutting-edge medications and therapies.

Palliative treatment: To manage symptoms and enhance quality of life in RCC patients with advanced disease, palliative treatment may be advised. This can include help with symptom control, pain management, and psychological support.

It’s crucial to remember that decisions about therapy should be made in consultation with a urologist or medical oncologist who specializes in kidney cancer. The specifics of the tumour, the patient’s general health, and any potential adverse effects of the treatments all influence the choice of therapy. In addition, the field of RCC treatment is constantly changing, and new medications and treatments can become accessible as a result of current studies and clinical trials.