It is not effective as a single primary treatment modality. Hormonal therapy protocols were based upon observations that progestinal agents inhibited the growth of renal cell tumors. Although early reports were encouraging, no studies have substantiated the initial results. Other hormonal agents, including tamoxifen, have proven equally ineffective. Chemotherapy in treating renal cell has been poor, although cytotoxic drugs are the cornerstone of therapy for most solid malignancies.
Adoptive immunotherapy relies on activation of memory T-lymphocytes.
Some favorable responses are occurring. Renal Cell Carcinoma presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The increased utilization of abdominal imaging is detecting more tumors at a very early stage. The task will be to improve the differential diagnoses of these tumors to exclude those which do not need surgical therapy.