Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Clinically Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Thermal ablation is currently the most studied treatment option for medically inoperable patients with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recent evidence suggests that stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) may offer an effective noninvasive alternative for these patients. In this review, we explore the current literature on SABR for the primary treatment of RCC and make recommendations for future studies so that an accurate comparison between SABR and other ablative therapies may be conducted.

Role of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Renal Cell Cancer: Updated and Critical Review

“…Stereotactic body RT is also safe and effective for the treatment of RCC metastases to thoracic, abdominal, and integumentary soft tissues. It has been shown that radiographic response rates were greater and more durable using SBRT compared to conventional fractionated radiotherapy (36, 52).…”

“…These effects have been observed both locally and in distant, nonirradiated sites (35). This suggests that radiotherapy may play a role in the curative treatment of systemic disease as an immune-stimulatory agent in the future and that its effects are not limited to localized disease (36).…”

Renal cell carcinoma with isolated breast metastasis

“…Also, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (thermal ablation in particular) is currently the most studied treatment option for patients who are at high risk for surgical operations. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is approved for localised RCC and has been shown to have favourable outcomes when compared with other modality of radiotherapy 17. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is currently under investigation for metastatic RCC treatment 18…”