Cytoreductive nephrectomy for kidney cancer

Cytoreductive nephrectomy removes a kidney with cancer, even when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body. In this situation, surgery is usually not expected to cure the cancer on its own. Instead, the aim is to reduce the amount of cancer in the body, which may help control symptoms, slow the growth of the cancer, or make other treatments work better.

This surgery is not recommended for everyone. It may be considered if:

• You are in good general health,
• The number and size of metastases are limited,
• The cancer has responded well to drug treatment. 

Your care team will assess whether this is a good option for you.

In many cases, your doctor may recommend starting with drug treatment first. If it works well, surgery may be done afterwards to remove the kidney tumour. This is called deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy (surgery after medicines).

What is the difference between a radical nephrectomy and a cytoreductive nephrectomy?

Both surgeries remove a kidney affected by cancer, but their goals differ:

• Radical nephrectomy is used to try to cure the cancer when it has not spread.
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy is used when the cancer has already spread. It aims to reduce the amount of cancer in the body, not to cure it.

This chapter contains general information about cytoreductive nephrectomy for kidney cancer. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider for guidance on your individual medical situation.

Last updated: July 2026

Reviewed by (2026 update): 

• Ms. Rose Woodward (EAU Guidelines Panel on Renal Cell Cancer)
• Dr. Stephanie Bonn (EAU Guidelines Panel on Renal Cell Cancer)