Chemotherapeutic strategies for renal cell carcinoma.

Overview

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease that is highly resistant to systemic chemotherapy. Responses to combination chemotherapy have been reported in patients with collecting duct carcinoma and the sarcomatoid variant of renal cancer. Clinical trials combining chemotherapy with biologic response modifiers have not resulted in significant advances in the treatment of RCC. Patients with advanced local or metastatic RCC should be offered investigational therapeutic options. The identification of novel agents with significantly improved antitumor activity remains a high priority in the treatment of this disease.