Kidney Cancer Treatment

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In 2021, 36.0% of patients diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer received a partial nephrectomy.

Summary graph for Kidney Cancer Treatment- Click to see detailed view of graph

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Summary graph for Kidney Cancer Treatment- Click to see detailed view of graph

Background

Kidney cancer, also called renal cell cancer, is one of the ten most common cancers in both men and women. Treatment options may include surgery (open or laparoscopic), local therapies such as ablation and embolization, active surveillance, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments might be used alone or in combination, depending on various factors.

Surgery is the main treatment for most types of kidney cancer. Since 2000, the use of complete nephrectomy (removal of the whole kidney) in patients with localized kidney cancer or cancer in the immediate surrounding tissue (regional kidney cancer) has decreased, while the rate of partial nephrectomy (removal of only the affected part of the kidney) has increased. Although there are patients for whom it is not possible, partial nephrectomy is now the preferred treatment for patients with early stage kidney cancer,. Studies have shown long-term outcomes after partial nephrectomy and complete nephrectomy are about the same. Also, partial nephrectomy may prevent serious side effects like chronic kidney disease.

Systemic therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy) also may be used as a treatment for some individuals diagnosed with kidney cancer. Adjuvant systemic therapies such as pembrolizumab and sunitinib are sometimes used in the treatment of stage II and III kidney cancer, and a broader range of systemic options are used in metastatic disease.

Measure

Partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy in patients with localized/regional kidney cancer.

Receipt of systemic therapy among patients with kidney cancer.

Data Source

Nephrectomy estimates: SEER 22 Registries, National Cancer Institute, 2004–2021.

Systemic therapy estimates: SEER Patterns of Care/Quality of Care Studies, National Cancer Institute, 2004-2019.

Healthy People 2030 Target

  • There are no Healthy People 2030 targets for cancer treatment, including kidney cancer treatment.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trends and Most Recent Estimates

Nephrectomy
All Races/Ethnicities, Ages 20+
Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 36.0 35.6 - 36.5
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 43.1 42.6 - 43.5
All Races/Ethnicities, Ages 20-64
Percent of patients aged 20 - 64 years diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 - 64 years diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 45.7 45.0 - 46.4
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 43.2 42.6 - 43.9
All Races/Ethnicities, Ages 65 and Older
Percent of patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 31.3 31.0 - 31.6
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 43.0 42.6 - 43.3
Non-Hispanic White, Ages 20+
Percent of Non-Hispanic White patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of Non-Hispanic White patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 36.7 36.3 - 37.0
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 43.4 43.0 - 43.7
Non-Hispanic Black, Ages 20+
Percent of Non-Hispanic Black patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of Non-Hispanic Black patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 33.2 33.0 - 33.3
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 37.2 37.1 - 37.4
Hispanic, Ages 20+
Percent of Hispanic patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of Hispanic patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 35.2 35.0 - 35.4
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 44.5 44.3 - 44.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, Ages 20+
Percent of Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2021)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with localized/regional kidney cancer receiving partial nephrectomy or complete nephrectomy, 2004-2021 Partial nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Partial nephrectomy 39.5 39.4 - 39.6
Complete nephrectomyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Complete nephrectomy 43.3 43.1 - 43.4
Systemic Therapy
By Age at Diagnosis
Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by age at diagnosis, 2004-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by age at diagnosis, 2004-2019 All AgesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Ages 24.5 22.2 - 27.0
Ages 20-64Click to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 20-64 24.3 21.4 - 27.5
Ages 65+Click to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 65+ 24.7 21.1 - 28.7
By Race/Ethnicity
Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by race/ethnicity, 2004-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by race/ethnicity, 2004-2019 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races/Ethnicities 24.5 22.2 - 27.0
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 29.1 25.8 - 32.6
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 9.9 6.8 - 14.3
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 16.9 13.7 - 20.7
Asian/Pacific IslanderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Asian/Pacific Islander 24.3 18.5 - 31.2
American Indian/Alaska NativeClick to see the detailed trend graph for American Indian/Alaska Native 8.8 4.3 - 17.0
By Stage at Diagnosis
Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by stage at diagnosis, 2004-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with kidney cancer receiving systemic therapy by stage at diagnosis, 2004-2019 LocalizedClick to see the detailed trend graph for Localized 2.1 1.1 - 3.8
RegionalClick to see the detailed trend graph for Regional 17.3 12.7 - 23.0
DistantClick to see the detailed trend graph for Distant 61.1 56.6 - 65.3

Additional Information

Year Range

2004-2021

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2017-2021

Recent Summary Trend

Non-Significant Change

Desired Direction

Rising

Summary Tables

Kidney, Lung, Ovarian, Prostate Treatment