Stage I: Options include a partial, simple or radical nephrectomy. Doctors may use arterial embolization in patients who cannot undergo surgery or apply external radiation to alleviate symptoms. Five-year survival is 88 to 100 percent.

Stage II: Doctors may combine a radical nephrectomy with external radiation before or after the procedure, or perform a partial nephrectomy. External radiation and arterial embolization may be used as in Stage I. Five-year survival is 63 to 67 percent.

Stage III: Physicians may perform a radical nephrectomy, which may be augmented by external radiation before or after the procedure. If the cancer has spread to the renal vein or vena cava, part of the blood vessels may also be removed. An arterial embolization followed by radical nephrectomy is another option. Symptoms can be alleviated with external radiation, arterial embolization or a simple or radical nephrectomy. Five-year survival is 40 to 80 percent.

Stage IV: Treatment may include external radiation and a nephrectomy to relieve symptoms. Doctors perform a radical nephrectomy along with surgery to remove any cancer that may have metastasized. Cytokine therapy is now considered a standard treatment for these patients. Clinical trials of immunotherapy, new chemotherapy drugs, and other new therapies are an appropriate option. Five-year survival is less than 18 percent.