What is the latest treatment for kidney cancer?

How successful is immunotherapy for kidney cancer?

What is the most common treatment for renal cell carcinoma?

What Foods Fight Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer treatment drugs

The targeted drugs used to treat advanced kidney cancer work by blocking angiogenesis (growth of the new blood vessels that nourish cancers) or important proteins in cancer cells (called tyrosine kinases) that help them grow and survive. Some targeted drugs affect both.

Sorafenib (Nexavar)

Sorafenib acts by blocking both angiogenesis and growth-stimulating proteins in the cancer cell itself. Sorafenib does this by blocking several tyrosine kinases that are important for cell growth and survival. It is taken as a pill twice a day.

The most common side effects seen with this drug include fatigue, rash, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure, and redness, pain, swelling, or blisters on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet (hand-foot syndrome).

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Sunitinib (Sutent)

Sunitinib also blocks several tyrosine kinases, similar to the ones blocked by sorafenib. It attacks both blood vessel growth and other targets that help cancer cells grow. This drug is taken as a pill.

The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, changes in skin or hair color, mouth sores, weakness, and low white and red blood cell counts. Other possible effects include tiredness, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, bleeding, hand-foot syndrome, and low thyroid hormone levels.

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Temsirolimus (Torisel)

Temsirolimus works by blocking a protein known as mTOR, which normally helps cells grow and divide. This drug has been shown to be helpful against advanced kidney cancers that have a poorer prognosis because of certain factors. It is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, typically once a week.

The most common side effects of this drug include skin rash, weakness, mouth sores, nausea, loss of appetite, fluid buildup in the face or legs, and increases in blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Rarely, more serious side effects have been reported.

Everolimus (Afinitor)

Everolimus also blocks the mTOR protein. It is used to treat advanced kidney cancers after other drugs such as sorafenib or sunitinib have been tried. Everolimus is taken as a pill once a day.

Common side effects of this drug include mouth sores, an increased risk of infections, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, skin rash, feeling tired or weak, fluid buildup (usually in the legs), and increases in blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A less common but serious side effect is lung damage, which can cause shortness of breath or other problems.

Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Bevacizumab is an IV drug that works by slowing the growth of new blood vessels. It may help some people with kidney cancer when used with interferon-alfa.

More common side effects include high blood pressure, tiredness, and headaches. Less common but possibly serious side effects include bleeding, blood clots, holes forming in the intestines, heart problems, and slow wound healing.

Pazopanib (Votrient)

Pazopanib is another drug that blocks several tyrosine kinases involved in cancer cell growth and the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor. It is taken as a pill once a day.

Common side effects include high blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, low blood cell counts, and liver problems. It can cause lab test results of liver function to become abnormal, but it rarely leads to severe liver damage that could be life threatening. Problems with bleeding, clotting, and wound healing can occur, as well. In rare cases it can also cause a problem with the heart rhythm or even a heart attack. If you are taking this drug, your doctor will monitor your heart with EKGs as well as check your blood tests to check for liver or other problems.

Axitinib (Inlyta)

Axitinib also inhibits several tyrosine kinases involved in the formation of new blood vessels. It can be used by itself after at least one other treatment has been tried, or it can be used with certain immunotherapy drugs, like pembrolizumab or avelumab, as the first treatment for people with advanced kidney cancer. Axitinib is taken as a pill twice a day.

Common side effects include high blood pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss, voice changes, hand-foot syndrome, and constipation. High blood pressure requiring treatment is fairly common, but in a small number of patients it can get high enough to be life-threatening. It can also cause problems with bleeding, clotting, and wound healing. In some patients, lab test results of liver function can become abnormal. Axitinib may also cause the thyroid gland to become underactive, so your doctor will watch your blood levels of thyroid hormone while you are on this drug.

Cabozantinib (Cabometyx)

Cabozantinib is another drug that blocks several tyrosine kinases, including some that help form new blood vessels. It is taken as a pill once a day.

Common side effects include diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite and weight loss, high blood pressure, hand-foot syndrome, and constipation. Less common but more serious side effects can include serious bleeding, blood clots, very high blood pressure, severe diarrhea, and holes forming in the intestines.

Lenvatinib (Lenvima)

Lenvatinib (Lenvima) is another kinase inhibitor that helps block tumors from forming new blood vessels, as well as targeting some of the proteins in cancer cells that normally help them grow. It is typically used along with everolimus after at least one other treatment has been tried. Lenvatinib is taken as capsules once a day.

Common side effects include diarrhea, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, weight loss, high blood pressure, and swelling in the arms or legs. Less common but more serious side effects can include serious bleeding, blood clots, very high blood pressure, severe diarrhea, holes forming in the intestines, and kidney, liver, or heart failure.

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What is the latest treatment for kidney cancer?

For patients with the most common type of kidney cancer, there is now a new approved use of the targeted therapy cabozantinib (Cabometyx®). In December 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of the drug as an initial, or first-line, treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Cabozantinib was initially approved in 2016 for patients with metastatic RCC whose tumors did not respond to their first treatment or who had relapsed after previous treatment. (In 2012, a different formulation of the drug was approved under the trade name Cometriq® for the treatment of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma.)

How successful is immunotherapy for kidney cancer?

The majority of patients in each treatment group had intermediate- or poor-risk disease. Oncologists use well-established risk factors to categorize patients with advanced kidney cancer into favorable-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups. Approximately 75% of all patients with advanced kidney cancer have intermediate- or poor-risk disease.

At 18 months after initiating treatment, 75% of patients treated with the immunotherapy combination were still alive, compared with 60% of those treated with sunitinib. At a median follow-up of 25 months, the median overall survival for patients treated with the immunotherapy combination had not been reached. For patients treated with sunitinib, it was 26 months.

More patients assigned to the immunotherapy combination than to sunitinib experienced an objective tumor response (42% versus 27%), including complete responses (9% versus 1%), meaning their cancer was no longer detectable.

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What is the most common treatment for renal cell carcinoma?

Renal cell cancer is one of the few tumors in which well-documented cases of spontaneous tumor regression in the absence of therapy exist, but this occurs very rarely and may not lead to long-term survival. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment of this disease. Even in patients with disseminated tumor, locoregional forms of therapy may play an important role in palliating symptoms of the primary tumor or of ectopic hormone production. Systemic therapy has demonstrated only limited effectiveness.

Five types of standard treatment are used:

Surgery

Surgery to remove part or all of the kidney is often used to treat renal cell cancer. The following types of surgery may be used:

Partial nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the cancer within the kidney and some of the tissue around it. A partial nephrectomy may be done to prevent loss of kidney function when the other kidney is damaged or has already been removed.
Simple nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the kidney only.
Radical nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the kidney, the adrenal gland, surrounding tissue, and, usually, nearby lymph nodes.

A person can live with part of 1 working kidney, but if both kidneys are removed or not working, the person will need dialysis (a procedure to clean the blood using a machine outside of the body) or a kidney transplant (replacement with a healthy donated kidney). A kidney transplant may be done when the disease is in the kidney only and a donated kidney can be found. If the patient has to wait for a donated kidney, other treatment is given as needed.

When surgery to remove the cancer is not possible, a treatment called arterial embolization may be used to shrink the tumor. A small incision is made and a catheter (thin tube) is inserted into the main blood vessel that flows to the kidney. Small pieces of a special gelatin sponge are injected through the catheter into the blood vessel. The sponges block the blood flow to the kidney and prevent the cancer cells from getting oxygen and other substances they need to grow.

After the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after the surgery, to lower the risk that the cancer will come back, is called adjuvant therapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer. External radiation therapy is used to treat renal cell cancer, and may also be used as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy).

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or biologic therapy.

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What Foods Fight Kidney Cancer?

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for anyone living with kidney cancer.

Your nutritional needs depend on what type of treatment you’re on and the stage of your cancer. But there are a few foods you should make an effort to include in all of your meals:

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are high in soluble fiber and a good source of many essential vitamins and minerals. They also help to reduce cholesterol levels and control your blood sugar. You should aim to have between 5 and 10 servings of fruits and vegetables from a variety of sources every day.

Whole grains and starches

Whole wheat bread, wild rice, and whole wheat pasta are an excellent source of energy. They’re also rich in fiber, iron, and B vitamins.

Some whole grains are high in phosphorus and potassium. Both of these can cause problems if you consume high doses of them while your kidneys aren’t fully functioning. So, it’s worth checking with your doctor about which whole grain foods may be best for you.

Proteins

Proteins are a necessary part of everyone’s diet, as they help to build and maintain muscle mass. But too much protein for someone with kidney cancer can cause a buildup of food-derived waste in the bloodstream. This may cause symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and headache.

Speak with a doctor or registered dietitian about the right amount and best types of protein to include in your diet.

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What to avoid

Several foods can increase your risk of kidney-related complications. Eat these foods in moderation or avoid them altogether:

Foods that are high in salt

Salt can disrupt the fluid balance in your body and lead to high blood pressure. This can make any loss of kidney function worse.

Processed foods are typically high in sodium, so it’s in your best interest to avoid:

fast food
canned food
salty snacks
deli meats

Whenever possible, use herbs and spices for flavoring instead of salt. However, if you’re using exotic herbs, check with your healthcare provider.

Foods high in phosphorous

Phosphorousis a chemical element necessary for maintaining bone strength. But in people with kidney cancer, it may build up in your bloodstream and cause symptoms like itchiness and joint pain.

If you’re struggling with these symptoms, you may want to reduce your intake of high-phosphorus foods like:

seeds
nuts
beans
processed bran cereals

Too much water

Overhydrating may also create problems for people with kidney cancer. Having reduced kidney function can compromise your urine production and cause your body to retain too much fluid.

It’s important for everyone to drink plenty of water, but make an effort to monitor your intake of fluids so you’re not consuming an excessive amount.

10 common question about kidney cancer treatment drugs

1What is the best treatment for kidney cancer?

Treatment of stage I renal cell cancer may include the following: Surgery (radical nephrectomy, simple nephrectomy, or partial nephrectomy). Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms in patients who cannot have surgery. Arterial embolization as palliative therapy. A clinical trial of a new treatment.

2What drugs are used to treat kidney cancer?

Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer Treating advanced kidney cancer. All of the targeted drugs below can be used to treat advanced kidney cancers. ... Adjuvant therapy after surgery. ... Sorafenib (Nexavar) ... Sunitinib (Sutent) ... Temsirolimus (Torisel) ... Everolimus (Afinitor) ... Bevacizumab (Avastin) ... Pazopanib (Votrient)

3What type of chemotherapy is used for kidney cancer?

Some chemo drugs, such as vinblastine, floxuridine, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, and gemcitabine have been shown to help a small number of patients. Still, chemo is often only used for kidney cancer after targeted drugs and/or immunotherapy have already been tried.

4How long do you have to live with kidney cancer?

The five-year survival rate for stage 2 kidney cancer is 74 percent. That means out of 100 people, 74 people diagnosed with stage 2 kidney cancer are still alive five years after being diagnosed.

5Does kidney cancer spread fast?

It starts when cells in the kidney grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. ... So if kidney cancer spreads to the bone (or any other place), it's still called kidney cancer.

6What not to eat when you have kidney cancer?

Cancer patients are often urged to eat high-calorie, high-protein foods such as peanut butter, milkshakes, sauces, gravies, meats, cheeses, and whole milk. The right amount of protein. Kidney function may decrease as a result of cancer treatment, particularly if surgeons have to remove one kidney.

7Where does kidney cancer usually spread to first?

M1: Distant metastasis is present; includes spread to distant lymph nodes and/or to other organs. Kidney cancer most often spreads to the lungs, bones, liver, or brain.

8Is Kidney Cancer aggressive?

However, cells related to this type of cancer tend to be larger in size. Collecting duct RCC is a rare and aggressive type of RCC, accounting for less than one percent of kidney cancers. ... The tumor cells may begin to look more like bladder cancer cells than kidney cancer cells when observed under a microscope.