Kidney Cancer Program

Learn more about kidney cancer

For more information, call the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic Hotline at 800-252-2990. To learn about a new vaccine for patients with metastatic kidney cancer, click here. For other clinical trials involving kidney cancer, click here.

There are approximately 27,000 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year. As medical technology continues to develop, new treatment options are improving the outcome for patients.

Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center is at the forefront in offering cellular therapy for patients with cancer. All of our cellular therapy is produced in our state-of-the-art cell production facility, which is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks.

Patients receive their therapy in the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, which is adjacent to our laboratories. We maintain a strong collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, National Kidney Cancer Association and other renowned cancer organizations, and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to bring the latest technology to our patients with kidney cancer.

Diagnostics

Our team uses a variety of diagnostic tools to evaluate the kidney and determine the extent of the disease:

16-slice Computed Tomography. 16-slice Computed Tomography provides all the diagnostic advantages of conventional CT (ability to obtain cross-sectional images of body tissues and organs) with greater speed and more precise detail within the images. Often used with contrast agents, 16-slice CT yields clinically useful information about many forms of cancer.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio frequency waves to provide a clear picture of the body's soft tissues. With this technology, physicians are able to clearly view the position and extent of tumors. Advances in MRI have made this a valuable tool by providing information about suspicious areas that other imaging techniques cannot provide. St. Luke's recently installed a 3T MRI unit, a high-tech microscope which provides more detailed scans for greater accuracy in diagnosis. This new MRI picks up subtle abnormalities that traditional MRI may miss.

Ultrasound. Ultrasound projects sound waves into the body to produce an image of internal organs, structures and tumors. A gel is applied to the patient's pelvic and kidney areas and a small handheld device is passed over the areas. The result is an image that is viewed on a monitor.

Bone scan. A bone scan can detect the spread of cancer to bones when aggressive tumors and metastasis are suspected. During this nuclear medicine procedure, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein of the arm. The material allows visualization of metastatic cancer in the bones and can also detect some non-cancerous diseases of the bone.

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP). A dye containing iodine is injected into a vein of the arm during an IVP. The dye moves through the bloodstream and collects in the urinary system, where it improves the contrast of X-rays and produces enhanced images of the kidneys and other structures of the urinary tract. An IVP can detect tumors and resulting damage to the kidney.

Genetic counseling

Major advances have been made toward understanding some of the genetic basis of kidney cancers. Some people with kidney cancer may have a rare inherited disease called Von Hippel Lindau. Individuals with this condition have an alteration in the VHL gene and they are at high risk of developing cancer of the kidney and other organs.

Our Genetics Counseling Program helps identify individuals who may be at high risk for developing cancer. Armed with this information, individuals and their physicians can plan preventative measures, or a cancer can be identified early when it is most curable.

The Cancer Genetics Counseling Program provides:

• Confidential hereditary cancer risk assessment
• Access to on-going local and national cancer research studies
• Education for patients, health care professionals and the community
• Genetic testing and DNA banking when appropriate

About 5% - 10% of all cancers can be attributed to a hereditary factor. Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to any of them, ask your doctor for a referral for a cancer genetics assessment.

1. Have several of your relatives had cancer … especially skin, breast, ovarian, colon, endometrial (uterine cancer), or thyroid cancer?
2. Have you or any of your relatives with cancer been diagnosed before the age of 50?
3. Do you or a relative have more than one primary cancer (such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer)?
4. Do you or a family member have an unusual type of cancer, such as male breast cancer?
5. Does your family history of cancer cause you to worry about your risk of developing the disease?
6. Do you think the cancer in your family is hereditary?

Advanced treatment and technologies

St. Luke's participates in national clinical trials of new drugs and treatments that promise to significantly advance the fight against cancer. Our experts can often suggest options that no other hospitals may be able to provide. Among the methods used to treat kidney cancer are:

Fine Needle Aspiration. Kidney cancer tumors are comprised of malignant cells growing in a mass. If a tumor is detected during an imaging procedure, a sample of cells may be taken for microscopic evaluation by a specialist. Some tumors also contain cysts. If so, a sample of the liquid can also be drawn from the cyst for examination. Once the cancer cells are identified, an appropriate treatment plan can be determined.

Surgery. Surgery is the main approach for treatment. Our surgeons are trained in advanced surgical techniques such as laparoscopic removal of the kidney.

• Radical Nephrectomy. This most common form of surgery for kidney cancer involves removal of the entire kidney. If the cancer has spread, the adrenal gland may be removed along with surrounding fatty tissue and lymph nodes.
• Partial Nephrectomy. In some cases, it may be possible to remove only the cancerous portion of the kidney if a tumor is small and confined to the top or bottom of the organ. This preserves kidney function and is often the preferred procedure when cancer is present in both kidneys or when only one is functioning.
• Laparoscopic Nephrectomy. This minimally invasive surgical option involves a series of small incisions around the kidney. A small camera is inserted to guide the surgeon and specialized tools are used to remove the kidney through a slightly larger incision in the center of the abdomen. This technique means shorter hospitalization, less pain and quicker recovery.

Radiation oncology. A sophisticated and effective way to treat many kinds of cancer, radiation oncology uses highly advanced technology and innovative treatment techniques to destroy cancer cells or to prevent diseased cells from growing.  [ Learn more ]

Arterial Embolization. This non-surgical procedure provides an option for patients at risk for surgery due to other health-related issues. A small catheter is inserted in a blood vessel in the groin and is passed up to the kidney. A small, gelatin sponge is injected into the artery that provides the blood supply to the cancerous kidney. The sponge cuts off the flow of blood to the kidney and the tumor, causing both to die. At a later date, if the patient's health permits, the kidney is surgically removed.

Radiofrequency Ablation. This technique uses electrical frequencies to apply intense heat directly into a tumor. A relatively new technique, radiofrequency ablation is proving useful in treating kidney and liver cancers.

Cryosurgery. A minimally invasive technique, cryosurgery freezes cancerous tumors in the kidneys. Cryosurgery is especially helpful when treating people with recurrent tumors who cannot tolerate further radiation treatments or traditional surgical methods for removing the tumors.

Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy stimulates the body's immune system and destroys cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. Immune system cells are taken from a patient's blood and manipulated in the laboratory. Once the cells have obtained cancer-killing ability, they are given back to the patient to destroy cancer. Our team has worked with hundreds of kidney cancer patients since 1987 and brings the newest and most effective treatments to our patients. [ Learn more ]

Chemotherapy. Advances in the effectiveness of cancer-fighting drugs has kept chemotherapy at the forefront in the fight against cancer. Often used in combination with other therapies, chemotherapy is frequently used to combat cancers not treatable through surgical excision.

Clinical trials

St. Luke's Medical Center is a leading center for kidney cancer clinical trials and has been at the forefront for adjuvant treatment for kidney cancer. To learn more about the clinical trials currently underway, click here.

For more information, call the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic Hotline at 800-252-2990.