Recent Developments in Research on Kidney Cancer: Highlights from Urological and Oncological Congresses in 2007

ObjectivesThis paper communicates the major new findings on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that were presented at the 2007 annual meetings of the European Association of Urology (EAU), American Urological Association (AUA) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and discussed during a closed meeting in September 2007.MethodsThe most relevant new findings were selected by urological experts in the field of RCC.ResultsAlthough laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is a promising technique, it may be associated with additional postoperative morbidity and prolonged warm ischemia time (WIT) compared with open PN. WIT is the strongest modifiable risk factor to avoid decreased renal function after PN. LPN is not recommended in patients with a unique/solitary kidney. However, PN should be preferred to radical nephrectomy whenever PN is technically feasible, because data suggest that overall survival is decreased in patients with small renal tumours who underwent a radical nephrectomy.ConclusionsAdditional data have been accumulated regarding targeted therapies. The efficacy of sunitinib and sorafenib as first- and second-line therapy, respectively, has been confirmed. Prognostic factors have been identified for both therapies. Although, sorafenib was not superior to interferon-α as first-line treatment, dose escalation with sorafenib could be an interesting approach. Bevacizumab improves progression-free survival when combined with interferon-α as first-line therapy. New drugs as well as drug combinations are now being investigated.