title: Renal cell carcinoma: molecular biology and targeted therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) continues to be the subject of vigorous clinical and translational investigation. Advances in systemic targeted therapies, new molecular pathways and immunotherapy approaches will be discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and/or the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways continue to be the mainstay for treating metastatic RCC (mRCC). Although enhanced target specificity has improved the toxicity profile associated with newer VEGF-pathway antagonists, durable complete responses remain the exception. Identification of novel pathways/agents, as well as the optimal sequencing and combination of existing targeted agents, remain areas of active study. In addition, emerging data from early clinical trials have reinvigorated interest in immunomodulatory agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic armamentarium available to genitourinary oncologists continues to grow, but much work remains to be done to fully realize the potential of pathway-specific targeted strategies and immune-based approaches for mRCC.
authors.affiliation: aUrologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland bSection of Urologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stamatakis
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Ramaprasad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008967:Molecular Biology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents