title: Renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Renal cell carcinoma represents a significant challenge to surgeons and oncologists treating urologic malignancies. Diagnostically, it is critically important to identify the precise extent of the tumor prior to therapeutic intervention. Therapeutically, a number of controversies continue to be debated, including the role of renal-conserving surgery and the role of surgery in patients with metastatic disease. New research is beginning to identify factors involved in the multidrug-resistant properties of these tumors that may allow us, in the future, to treat these tumors more effectively with systemic chemotherapy. Utilizing immunotherapy in the form of autolymphocytes, interferon, interleukin-2, or combinations of these regimens, a number of exciting advances have been made in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This review examines the most recent literature on each of the above-mentioned aspects in the treatment of this difficult and challenging tumor.
authors.affiliation: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons