Targeted Therapy
Targeted treatments are drugs that block specific abnormal signals present in kidney cancer cells that allow them to proliferate. These treatments have shown promise in treating kidney cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. One recently approved targeted drug, sunitinib (Sutent), blocks signals that play a role in tumor growth and the growth of blood vessels that provide nutrients to cancer cells and allow cancer cells to spread. Another targeted therapy being considered for approval, temsirolimus (Torisel), blocks a different signal that allows cancer cells to grow and survive. Targeted therapy drugs can cause side effects, such as a rash that can be severe, diarrhea and fatigue. Researchers continue to investigate these treatments in combination with other new cancer drugs.