Kidney Cancer Treatment & Surgery

Houston Methodist’s cancer specialists treat all forms of kidney cancer, from early-stage to advanced disease.

With seven locations across the Greater Houston area, our experts offer cutting-edge kidney cancer care close to home or work.

Our Approach to Kidney Cancer Treatment

Our experts are among the best nationwide in treating kidney cancer, and we’re among few centers strongly focused on preserving as much of the kidney as possible in order to avoid dialysis and prevent kidney failure.

We use innovative treatment techniques, performing minimally invasive robotic kidney cancer procedures — including robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy and robotic-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy — as often as possible. Our concentration on minimally invasive approaches decreases pain and complications, so you can recover more quickly. In addition, we specialize in advanced cases where disease involves veins that drain the kidney or extend into the vena cava, the body’s largest vein, or other adjacent organs.

Our researchers perform clinical trials to study new immunotherapies and targeted therapies that will improve kidney cancer outcomes. Additionally, several of our experts have cross-expertise in kidney transplant if needed to treat kidney cancer.

Kidney Cancer Treatment & Surgery Options We Offer

Our kidney cancer specialists include urologic oncologists, as well as radiation and medical oncologists. Your care team works together to ensure you receive exceptional and personalized care using the following treatments:

• Partial nephrectomy – removes the tumor, as well as some of the surrounding healthy kidney tissue to ensure all cancerous tissue is removed
• Radical nephrectomy – used for kidney tumors that are large or complex, removes the tumor or sometimes the entire kidney (possibly with the adrenal gland included)
• Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy – similar to a traditional nephrectomy, except the bowel, spleen and liver are completely avoided during removal of the cancerous portion of the kidney — resulting in a shorter procedure and reducing any potential complications with the bowel
• Cryotherapy – a hollow probe is inserted into the tumor and very cold gases are passed through to freeze and destroy the tumor
• Radiofrequency ablation – a probe is inserted into the tumor, and an electrical current is sent through the probe to heat and destroy the tumor
• Targeted therapy – drugs are used to prevent the cancer from creating new blood vessels that help continue its growth
• Immunotherapy – treatments that work to stimulate the immune system to better recognize and fight kidney cancer
• Reconstructive surgery – restores the structure and function of areas affected by kidney cancer and/or kidney cancer treatment
• Kidney transplant – used if the kidney is removed during treatment or if kidney function doesn't improve with dialysis