Anti-angiogenic therapy in the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer

SummaryMetastatic renal cell cancer is associated with a poor prognosis and is resistant to traditional chemotherapy agents. The majority of tumours are associated with inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau gene and subsequent overexpression of proangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Drugs targeting these pathways have undergone clinical testing in renal cell cancer with encouraging results. This type of therapy is set to revolutionise the treatment of renal cell cancer and this review outlines recent evidence from clinical trials investigating the most promising of these agents.