Kidney Cancer, or Renal Cell Carcinoma

Advanced cases of kidney cancer often require more than surgery alone to achieve the best long-term results.

Fox Chase Cancer Center is a leading hospital for participation in kidney cancer treatment clinical trials.

Medical oncologists at Fox Chase are nationally recognized for their experience in caring for kidney cancer patients who are not completely treated by surgery alone. They are also nationally recognized for their contributions in the development of the newest medicines that have proven to be effective in treating advanced and metastatic kidney cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body).

Radiation for Kidney Cancer

Fox Chase Cancer Center is a national leader in the use of radiation therapy to treat patients with many different types of cancer. Our radiation treatment technology is among the most sophisticated in the world. While radiation therapy is rarely used as a primary treatment for kidney cancer, external beam radiation treatment can be used for palliative therapy and for effective relief of pain or other symptoms in patients with advanced kidney cancer that has spread to the bones or other locations.

Active Surveillance
(Formerly Known as "Watchful Waiting")

At Fox Chase Cancer Center, we recognize each patient with kidney cancer is not the same. As a result, not all patients with kidney cancer are treated the same and not all patients will require or benefit from surgery.

Fox Chase Cancer Center doctors have the world's largest published experience with active surveillance of kidney cancer and have identified tumor growth kinetics (how fast the tumor is growing) as one means of determining who is a candidate for active surveillance and identifying patients who might safely avoid or defer surgery.

Optimized Treatment for Advanced Kidney Cancer

Our medical oncologists have been pivotal in the development of new medications, as new therapies for patients with advanced and metastatic kidney cancer.

Ongoing research at Fox Chase Cancer Center continues to develop and refine these approaches and drug combinations. Newer approaches include:

• Boosting the body's own immune system to combat the disease, since conventional kidney cancer chemotherapy has shown only marginal response

• "Targeted" therapies, which focus on interfering with a cancer's ability to stimulate its own growth and proliferation

Topics in This Section

• Patient Care Team
• Adrenal Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
  • Surgery for Kidney Cancer
• Penile Cancer
• Testicular Cancer
• Ureteral Cancer
• Urethral Cancer

See National Cancer Institute information on

• Renal Cell Cancer Treatment
• Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Treatment

Kidney Cancer Support Group

group for individuals diagnosed with kidney cancer where members meet monthly to share information and support. Read more »

Explore our On-Line Help Service
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Find a Clinical Trial

Benefit from new cancer treatments
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To make an appointment for treatment at Fox Chase, or if you have questions about cancer, call 1-888-FOX-CHASE (1-888-369-2427).

An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

Disclaimer: Temple University Health System (TUHS) neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.