Introduction
non-clear, RCC
DISEASE, RCC
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has traditionally been divided into 2 categories, clear cell and non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC). The former represents 75%-80% of cases while the latter makes up the remainder.Immense progress has been made in the management of advanced clear cell RCC. Harnessing the VEGF dependence of the disease, targeted therapies directed at VEGF and its cognate receptor have been introduced from 2005 onwards.Outcomes for nccRCC have been more sobering. Studies such as the ESPN and ASPEN, which included multiple non–clear cell histologies, have shown a marginal difference in favor of the VEGFR receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI) sunitinib compared to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor everolimus.