Clinical Trial Available for all Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer)
There is encouraging news for patients living with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), the most common type of kidney cancer.
New clinical trials are now open that use a highly targeted form of radiotherapy called Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR). Importantly, there are trial options available for patients at every stage of RCC – from early disease to metastatic cancer.
SABR is a precise form of radiotherapy that delivers high doses of radiation directly to a tumour while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue. SABR treatment for kidney cancer is usually given in 3-5 sessions.
If the cancer is confined to the kidney (Localised RCC)
For some patients, surgery may not be suitable due to other medical conditions, surgical risk, or personal choice.
The IROCK Registry is collecting international data on patients treated with SABR to the kidney. This helps doctors better understand:
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How well SABR controls the tumour
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How kidney function is affected
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What side effects may occur
This offers a non-surgical treatment option while contributing to important research.
If the cancer has spread to a small number of areas (Oligometastatic RCC)
Some patients have only a few areas of cancer spread (often described as 1–5 spots). In this situation, treating those areas directly may help control the disease.
The SIMPLIFY-SABR-COMET trial is studying whether giving SABR in a single treatment session works just as well as giving it over multiple sessions.
The goal is to:
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Reduce treatment time
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Maintain effectiveness
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Monitor quality of life
If the cancer has spread more widely (Metastatic RCC)
Many patients with metastatic RCC receive immunotherapy. A new study called SAMURAI (NRG-GU012) is looking at whether adding SABR to treat the main kidney tumour — alongside immunotherapy — improves outcomes.
This trial is exploring whether precise radiotherapy may:
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Improve cancer control
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Enhance the effect of immunotherapy
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Potentially avoid the need for surgery in some patients
Why This Matters
Kidney cancer treatment has changed significantly in recent years. These studies are helping doctors understand how radiotherapy can be used more effectively, either instead of surgery, alongside immunotherapy, or to treat limited areas of spread.
If you or someone you care for has RCC, it may be worth asking your cancer team:
“Is there a radiotherapy trial I should be considered for?”
Clinical trials are carefully monitored and designed to improve future treatment options while offering patients access to promising therapies