Medications for Treating Kidney Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide
Explore kidney cancer medications, from immunotherapy to targeted therapy, side effects, and what to expect during treatment.

Kidney cancer treatment has evolved significantly. Today, medications—especially for advanced cases—play a pivotal role alongside traditional surgical options. This article examines the major classes of medication used to treat kidney cancer, their effectiveness, common side effects, and what patients can expect during their treatment journey.
Overview: When Are Kidney Cancer Medications Used?
Treatment strategy for kidney cancer depends on the type and stage of your cancer, your overall health, how much it has spread, and other medical and practical considerations.
- Early-stage kidney cancer: Surgery or thermal ablation (destroying tumors with extreme heat or cold) is usually recommended as a first-line option.
- Advanced or metastatic kidney cancer: When cancer has spread or risks returning, doctors often combine or use only medications such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
More than 90% of kidney cancers are classified as renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Other, less common types include Wilms tumors (usually in children) and transitional cell carcinoma (ureter or renal pelvis).
Factors guiding medication choice include:
- Cancer stage
- Type of kidney cancer
- Your overall health and organ function
- Previous treatments you’ve received
- Insurance coverage and medication access
Which Medications Are Used for Kidney Cancer?
Unlike some other cancers, traditional chemotherapy is not very effective against most kidney cancers. Instead, doctors primarily use targeted therapies and immunotherapies to slow cancer growth, shrink tumors, or reduce recurrence risk.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides guidelines to help physicians tailor the right drugs to each subtype of kidney cancer.
Immunotherapy for Kidney Cancer
Immunotherapy drugs boost your immune system’s ability to spot and attack cancer cells. They have revolutionized treatment, especially for advanced kidney cancer.
Most immunotherapy drugs used today belong to a group called immune checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking proteins that normally keep immune T cells from attacking normal cells. By disrupting these proteins, the immune response against cancer is enhanced.
Main immune checkpoint inhibitors for kidney cancer:
- nivolumab (Opdivo)
- ipilimumab (Yervoy)
- avelumab (Bavencio)
- pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
For some cases, especially when cancer has spread, you might also receive older forms of immunotherapy such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon alpha:
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2): Often reserved for those with good organ function due to potential for severe side effects, but can produce strong responses in some patients.
- Interferon alpha: Can be used alone or, often, with targeted therapy such as bevacizumab for added effectiveness.
Immunotherapy is typically administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion. Interferon alpha is given as an injection under the skin.
How Immunotherapy Works
Checkpoint inhibitors target proteins such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 that cancers use to ‘hide’ from the immune system, allowing T cells to recognize and destroy the malignant cells. These medications can:
- Reduce tumor size
- Slow cancer growth
- Extend survival and sometimes enable remission
Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer
Targeted therapies attack specific molecular changes in cancer cells that make them grow or spread. They are more selective than chemotherapy, reducing harm to normal cells and often causing fewer side effects.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the most common targeted drugs for kidney cancer. These block critical proteins the cancer needs to survive:
- sunitinib (Sutent)
- pazopanib (Votrient)
- tivozanib (Fotivda)
- cabozantinib (Cabometyx)
- axitinib (Inlyta)
- lenvatinib (Lenvima)
Certain targeted therapies are used for specific subtypes or cases of kidney cancer:
- bevacizumab (Avastin): blocks the protein VEGF to restrict new blood vessel development that tumors need.
- everolimus (Afinitor): targets the mTOR pathway involved in cellular growth and proliferation.
Targeted therapies are usually taken as pills, once or twice daily, sometimes synchronously with other medications.
How Targeted Therapy Works
These drugs work by:
- Inhibiting growth signals inside the cancer cell
- Preventing the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that supply the tumor with nutrients
- Interrupting cellular communication pathways that drive tumor proliferation
Chemotherapy for Kidney Cancer
While chemotherapy is a standard treatment for many cancers, it is rarely effective for kidney cancer. Kidneys’ unique biology often makes their cancer cells less susceptible to these drugs. However, chemotherapy may still be tried when:
- Other therapies (targeted or immunotherapy) are ineffective or not tolerated;
- The patient has rare kidney cancer types (e.g., Wilms tumor—more common in children—or transitional cell carcinoma);
Common chemotherapy drugs for kidney cancer include:
- cisplatin
- 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
- gemcitabine
Chemotherapy may be administered orally or by IV infusion.
Medications for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC)
UTUC is a rare kidney-related cancer that occurs in the lining of the kidney or ureter. Medications for UTUC are often similar to those used for bladder cancer and can include combinations of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Treatment is highly individualized based on tumor type, grade, and patient health.
Kidney Cancer Medications for Children
Children most commonly experience Wilms tumor. Standard treatment often requires a combination approach:
- Surgery: To remove the tumor
- Chemotherapy: Wilms tumor is more responsive to chemotherapy, unlike adult RCC
- Radiation therapy: Sometimes used for advanced cases
The specific drugs, doses, and treatment duration depend on the child’s health, tumor stage, and response to therapy.
How Effective Are Kidney Cancer Medications?
Effectiveness depends on several factors, such as cancer type, stage, how quickly treatment is started, and individual tumor biology. In general:
- Medications can shrink tumors, slow their growth, or lower recurrence risk after surgery.
- Sometimes, combinations of immunotherapy and targeted therapy produce better results than single drugs alone.
- Cancer may eventually become resistant—requiring changes in medication or combinations.
Prompt diagnosis and the latest combination therapies have improved survival and quality of life for people with advanced kidney cancer.
Possible Side Effects of Kidney Cancer Medications
Most drugs used for kidney cancer are generally better tolerated than traditional chemotherapy, but side effects can still occur. Common side effects depend on the drug class and individual medications:
Immunotherapy Side Effects
- Fatigue
- Skin rash or itching
- Fever and chills
- Diarrhea
- Muscle or joint pains
- Risk of autoimmune reactions (inflammation in organs)
- Infusion reactions (allergy-like symptoms during or after IV infusion)
Targeted Therapy Side Effects
- High blood pressure
- Mouth sores
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea or digestive upset
- Loss of appetite
- Hand-foot syndrome (rash, burning, or pain on palms and soles)
- Changes in skin or hair color
Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss
- Increased risk of infections
- Fatigue
- Low blood counts (anemia, low platelets, low white cells)
- Mouth sores
Not every patient experiences all possible side effects. Your healthcare provider will help manage side effects with supportive medications and regular monitoring.
What to Expect During Kidney Cancer Medication Treatment
Personalized kidney cancer medication plans often involve:
- Regular visits for drug administration (infusions or prescription refills)
- Blood tests and imaging (like CT scans) to track response and monitor for side effects
- Ongoing communication with your oncology team to adjust dosage or address side effects
- Combination therapy: Some patients may receive immunotherapy and targeted therapy together for maximal benefit
- Clinical trials: Enrollment may be an option for access to cutting-edge treatments
Your experience will depend on the specific medications, your overall health, and how your cancer responds. Treatment goals may include:
- Shrinking or controlling tumor growth
- Relieving symptoms
- Improving survival and quality of life
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most common type of kidney cancer?
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) makes up more than 90% of adult kidney cancer cases.
Are medications always used for kidney cancer?
No. In early stages, surgery alone may be curative. Medications are most commonly used if cancer is advanced, has spread, or has a high probability of returning.
Is chemotherapy effective for kidney cancer?
Chemotherapy is generally not effective for RCC but is more useful for rare types like Wilms tumor and transitional cell carcinoma.
What are immune checkpoint inhibitors?
These are immunotherapy drugs that block certain proteins on immune cells (like PD-1, CTLA-4) to help your body’s natural immune response target and destroy kidney cancer cells.
Can children with kidney cancer receive the same medications as adults?
No. Wilms tumor is the primary form of childhood kidney cancer. It responds better to chemotherapy than adult kidney cancer does, and treatment regimens differ.
What are some ways to manage side effects from kidney cancer medications?
Report all side effects to your care team promptly. Supportive treatments (anti-nausea drugs, blood pressure medications, steroids, etc.) and dose adjustments can help manage most complications.
Summary
Medication advancements have transformed the treatment landscape for kidney cancer—especially for advanced and metastatic cases. Immunotherapies and targeted therapies are now foundational, replacing chemotherapy in most scenarios. Ongoing research and combined strategies continue to improve outcomes, making communication with your healthcare team essential for the best possible quality of life and prognosis.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-cancer
- https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-cancer/kidney-cancer-medicine
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9409-kidney-cancer-overview
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352669
- https://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney/hp/kidney-treatment-pdq
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZP1MwIifpU
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352664
- https://aakp.org/programs-and-events/aakp-healthline/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/video/navigating-motherhood
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