Treatment protocols for kidney cancer

INTRODUCTION — The following material represents a subset of chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens that are used for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell cancer. This is not an exhaustive list; it includes regimens that are considered by the authors and editors to be commonly used and important for the care of patients with renal cell cancer. Additional regimens may be added over time, particularly as treatment for renal cell cancer evolves.

This topic review does not address the appropriate context for use of these regimens in the care of patients with renal cell cancer. Clinicians should refer to the individual disease-oriented topic reviews that discuss the use of these protocols in appropriate clinical situations:

●(See "Overview of the treatment of renal cell carcinoma".)

●(See "Systemic therapy of advanced clear cell renal carcinoma".)

●(See "Antiangiogenic and molecularly targeted therapy for advanced or metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma".)

●(See "The treatment of advanced non-clear cell renal carcinoma".)

These tables are provided as examples of how to administer these regimens; there may be other acceptable methods. All protocols must be administered by clinicians who are trained in the use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The clinician is expected to use his or her independent medical judgment in the context of individual circumstances to make adjustments, as necessary.

REGIMENS

Advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Temsirolimus —  (table 1)

Nivolumab —  (table 2)

Pembrolizumab —  (table 3)

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab —  (table 4)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT — The UpToDate editorial staff acknowledges Scott M Wirth, PharmD, BCOP, who contributed to an earlier version of this topic review.