Although stage 4 RCC is the most advanced stage of cancer, there are still treatment options available.
Surgery
In some cases, when the main tumor is removable and the cancer has not spread extensively, a radical nephrectomy may be performed. This involves surgically removing most or all of the affected kidney.
Surgical removal of other tumors may be needed for people with metastatic cancer. A team of specialists will decide whether the metastasized tumors can be removed without too much risk.
If surgery isn’t possible, tumor embolization may be used. This procedure cuts off the blood supply to the tumor, which helps to reduce symptoms.
Many people may need systemic therapy once surgery has been performed to remove local tumors. This type of therapy treats cancer throughout the body. It can help to reduce cancer recurrences.
Systemic therapy for stage 4 RCC includes immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a
Immunotherapy, or biologic therapy, is a treatment that helps your immune system attack the cancer. It’s often introduced when the RCC cannot be removed with surgery.
Immunotherapy uses a few different types of drugs:
Checkpoint inhibitors
Your immune system uses a system of “checkpoints” to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells. Checkpoint inhibitors aim to help your immune system find cancer cells that are hiding from your immune system.
Nivolumab (Opdivo) is a checkpoint inhibitor administered through an IV that has become
Side effects include:
- rash
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- nausea
- headache
- skin rash
- joint pain
- abdominal pain
- trouble breathing
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Proleukin) is an artificial copy of proteins called cytokines that aim to activate your immune system to attack the tumor cells.
Another
Side effects include:
- fatigue
- bleeding
- chills
- fever
- low blood pressure
- fluid in the lungs
- kidney damage
It is important to note that interleukin-2 therapy is not suitable in all cases. It can cause severe side effects, and not all patients will be able to tolerate the therapy.
Interferon alpha
Interferons have antiviral, antiproliferative (inhibits cancer cell growth), and immunomodulatory (affects the body’s immune system) properties. Interferon alpha aims to stop tumor cells from dividing and growing.
Interferon is sometimes given with other drugs, such as bevacizumab (Avastin).
Side effects of interferon include:
- nausea
- flu-like symptoms
- fatigue
Interferons have been mostly replaced by single-agent targeted therapy. Single-agent interferon therapy is typically no longer used.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy for RCC means using drugs that specifically target cancer cells.
There are
The development of these targeted drugs has helped extend the lives of some stage 4 patients. The treatment has proven promising enough that researchers continue to develop new targeted drugs.
The drug bevacizumab (Avastin) blocks VEGF and is administered through a vein.
Side effects include:
- diarrhea
- weight loss
- fainting
- appetite loss
- heartburn
- mouth sores
A tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) stops new tumor blood vessel growth and comes in pill form. Examples of this type of drug include:
- sorafenib (Nexavar)
- cabozantinib (Cabometyx)
- pazopanib (Votrient)
- sunitinib (Sutent)
Side effects of TKIs include:
- high blood pressure
- nausea
- diarrhea
- pain in your hands and feet
mTOR inhibitors
Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors target the mTOR protein, which encourages renal cell cancer growth.
These include:
- temsirolimus (Torisel), administered through an IV
- everolimus (Afinitor), taken orally in pill form
Side effects include:
- rash
- weakness
- appetite loss
- mouth sores
- fluid buildup in the face or legs
- high blood sugar and cholesterol
Radiation therapy
Radiation uses high-energy X-ray beams to kill cancer cells or
Side effects of radiation include:
- stomach upset
- skin redness
- fatigue
- diarrhea
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a traditional treatment method for several types of cancers. It involves using a drug or combination of drugs to kill cancer cells.
However, chemotherapy is
This treatment is either taken intravenously or in pill form. It is given in cycles with intermittent periods of rest. You typically need to receive chemotherapy every month or every few months.
Side effects include:
- fatigue
- mouth sores
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea or constipation
- hair loss
- appetite loss
- increased risk for infections
Participating in clinical trials is another option for people with stage 4 RCC. Clinical trials are research trials for testing new drugs and treatments.
You can discuss current clinical trials and their potential risks and benefits with your doctor or healthcare professional.
Doctors who diagnose and treat RCC and other types of cancer use a staging system. Each person with RCC is given a number designation ranging from 1 to 4. Stage 1 is the earliest stage of the disease, and stage 4 is the latest and most advanced.
Staging for RCC is based on the size of the primary tumor and the spread of cancerous cells from the primary tumor to nearby tissues.
Stage 4 RCC can include different combinations of staging criteria.
The 5-year relative survival rate for people with stage 4 RCC is
People who can have surgery to remove metastatic tumors have better survival rates, and many who are treated with targeted drugs survive longer than those who don’t.
