Localized Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter
Regional Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter
Metastatic Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter
Recurrent Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of localized transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter may include the following:

• Surgery (nephroureterectomy or segmental resection of ureter).
• A clinical trial of fulguration.
• A clinical trial of laser surgery.
• A clinical trial of segmental resection of the renal pelvis.
• A clinical trial of regional chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of regional biologic therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with localized transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter ¹. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of regional transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter is usually done in a clinical trial.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with regional transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter ³. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of metastatic transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter is usually done in a clinical trial, which may include chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with metastatic transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter ⁴. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of recurrent transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter is usually done in a clinical trial, which may include chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter ⁵. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Glossary Terms

Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Agents used in biological therapy include monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and vaccines. These agents may also have a direct antitumor effect. Also called biological response modifier therapy, biotherapy, BRM therapy, and immunotherapy.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

A procedure to destroy tissue (such as a tumor) using an electric current. Also called electrofulguration.

A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.

Restricted to the site of origin, without evidence of spread.

Cancer that has spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body.

Surgery to remove a kidney and its ureter. Also called ureteronephrectomy.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.

In oncology, describes the body area right around a tumor.

Refers to cancer that has grown beyond the original (primary) tumor to nearby lymph nodes or organs and tissues.

Treatment with anticancer drugs directed to a specific area of the body.

The area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.

A procedure that uses surgery to remove tissue or part or all of an organ.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Cancer that forms in transitional cells in the lining of the bladder, ureter, or renal pelvis (the part of the kidney that collects, holds, and drains urine). Transitional cells are cells that can change shape and stretch without breaking apart.

The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.