Chemotherapy for kidney cancer

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer or 'cytotoxic' drugs to destroy cancer cells. These work by disrupting the growth of cancer cells. The drugs circulate in the bloodstream around the body.

Chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for the commonest type of kidney cancer - renal cell cancer. Chemotherapy isn't generally used for renal cell cancer because, so far, other types of treatment such as biological therapies work better. But new drugs are being developed all the time and new combinations of treatments being tried. These must be fully tested in clinical trials before they can be adopted as treatments. This is so that we are sure that they work for kidney cancer and are safe.

There are trials that are looking into combining the biological therapies interferon and IL-2 (aldesleukin) with a chemotherapy drug called 5FU. The HYDRA trial is looking at this combination of treatment, but after surgery for kidney cancer.  The aim of the treatment is to try to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. The HYDRA trial is now closed and we are waiting for the results. You can look for other chemotherapy trials in kidney cancer in our clinical trials database. Select 'kidney' from the drop down menu.

There is also information about research into chemotherapy for kidney cancer in the what's new in kidney cancer section of CancerHelp UK.

Chemotherapy is used more often for a type of cancer called transitional cell cancer, which can grow in the kidney, bladder or connecting tubes of the urinary system (the ureters). This type of cancer behaves more like bladder cancer, and so you may find the chemotherapy for bladder cancer section of CancerHelp UK helpful. Among the drugs tested for transitional cell cancer of the kidney are mitomycin C and a relatively new drug called vinflunine.

We don't yet know much scientifically about how some nutritional or herbal supplements may interact with chemotherapy. Some could be harmful. It is very important to let your doctors know if you take any supplements. Or if you are prescribed them by alternative or complementary therapy practitioners.

Talk to your specialist about any other tablets or medicines you take while you are having active treatment. There is information about the safety of herbal, vitamin and diet supplements in the complementary therapies section of CancerHelp UK.

Some studies seem to suggest that fish oil preparations may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. If you are taking or thinking of taking these supplements talk to your doctor to find out whether they could affect your treatment.

For more about chemotherapy look at the chemotherapy section in CancerHelp UK. It explains the treatment in more detail including

• How it works
• How chemotherapy is planned and given
• General side effects
• Living with chemotherapy

If you would like more information about chemotherapy, ask your chemotherapy nurse or contact our cancer information nurses. They would be happy to help.