Treatment Options for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Mechanisms and Outcomes

Abstract

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), cancer of the tubules of the kidneys, has historically been one of the most difficult cancers to treat due to its ability to remain hidden in the body for longer than other cancers and its tendency to resist traditional forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, both traditional and nontraditional treatments of RCC have seen both significant biomedical advancements and clinical instances of use in recent years. In this review, we analyze five treatments of RCC: Nephrectomy, Immunotherapy, Anti-Angiogenesis, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy, providing background on their mechanisms and clinical outcomes. Through our review of studies of clinical outcomes, we reaffirm the existing thought that nephrectomy remains the most effective treatment for RCC, while radiation therapy and chemotherapy are generally less effective and not recommended for treatment on their own. Immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy have been shown to be effective treatments in the modern healthcare landscape and show great potential for the future as the techniques are better developed and optimized.