Kidney Cancer

Great strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney cancer in the past decade, and the physicians of NYU Urology Associates have been at the forefront of these advances. We treat all kidney cancers, including renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter. We incorporate the latest medical research and technology in our practice and strive to maximize all aspects of patient outcome.

Make an appointment with a kidney cancer specialist

A patient's perspective

Read the stories of just a few of the individuals who have been treated for kidney cancer at NYU Langone.

More information on renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer. In this form of kidney cancer, cancer cells grow in the lining of the tubules of the kidney, which normally clean and filter the blood and produce urine.

Risk factors

Renal cell carcinoma is more common in men than in women. Other risk factors may include smoking and a family history of kidney cancer.

Symptoms, diagnosis and detection

Most tumors are discovered accidentally, during medical screening for other conditions. Symptoms of kidney cancer can include a combination of blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen, pain in the side, weight loss, fever or high blood pressure, but most often there are no symptoms at all.

Because imaging is critical for the diagnosis of renal tumors, NYU Urology Associates has teamed with the NYU Department of Radiology to develop new imaging protocols for the evaluation of renal masses. We use ultrasound, CAT scan and MRI to visualize tumors without surgery, helping to distinguish between benign and cancerous growths based on their appearance.

Treatment of renal cell carcinoma

Treatment of early-stage or localized kidney cancer

At NYU Urology, we make every attempt to preserve as much of each patient’s kidney as possible by removing only the part of the kidney with the tumor and a surrounding rim of normal tissue. Research by our team has shown that preserving unaffected sections of the kidney can have enormous health benefits for the patient in later years, reducing the possibility of chronic kidney disease.

In addition, we favor minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery, which minimize trauma to the body and improve recovery times. Even if the entire kidney needs to be removed, we can often use a laparoscopic approach, eliminating the need for a large incision in the patient’s side. Research at NYU Urology and elsewhere has shown that these minimally invasive approaches lead to reduced pain and improved recovery time while maintaining excellent surgical and functional outcomes.

In a small subset of kidney cancer patients who are too sick to undergo general anesthesia, we have teamed with the NYU Interventional Radiology Department to offer cryosurgical ablation (cryotherapy). Using a real-time CAT scan for guidance, physicians place a needle through the skin into the kidney tumor to freeze it and destroy it. However, these are not standard treatments for patients who are able to undergo general anesthesia.

Learn more about cryotherapy

Treatment for advanced kidney cancer

For individuals with metastatic kidney cancer, or cancer that has not responded to radiation therapy or chemotherapy, we partner with oncologists from the NYU Cancer Institute to develop a personalized cancer care plan. Surgical removal of the kidney (nephrectomy) may be recommended for treatment of metastatic kidney cancer. Surgery is traditionally followed by immune therapies such as interferon and interleukin, which help stimulate the body’s natural immune response. More recently, we have begun to use newer medications called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that shut down the growth of cancer cells and the blood vessels that feed them. This treatment typically helps shrink kidney tumors. In partnership with the NYU Cancer Institute, we are actively investigating whether TKIs can reduce the risk of recurrence of kidney cancer in patients with high-risk disease.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.