Anti-cancer drugs
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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of all new cancer diagnosis every year. RCC arises from the renal epithelium and represents 85% of all kidney tumors. According to histology, these neoplasms are divided into the following types: clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, oncocytoma, collecting duct, and unclassified. ⋯ Recent insights in the molecular basis of these tumors have opened a promising research field. Molecules targeting mammalian target of rapamycin, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-MET, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor are among some of the promising drugs tested in this setting. This article reviews the mechanisms of disease on RCC and summarizes treatment options with a particular focus on patients with non-clear cell tumors.
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The current standard treatment for early stage (I-III) renal cell cancer (RCC) is surgery. While the prognosis of stage I tumors is excellent, stage II and particularly stage III have a high risk of relapse. The adjuvant treatment of patients with RCC remains an area of investigation, with patient selection being a key aspect. ⋯ In the metastatic RCC setting, recent advances in the molecular understanding of oncogenic pathways have led to the development of new therapeutic strategies with the use of targeted therapies in the adjuvant setting. Neoadjuvant treatment is another treatment modality currently being evaluated for patients with early disease and in patients with metastatic RCC with inoperable primary tumors. The questions that remain unanswered include activity of these agents in early stages of the disease, patient selection, optimal start time of the adjuvant treatment, and finally, the optimal length of treatment.