Molecular targeted therapy for renal cell carcinoma and other urological cancers

In Japan, therapeutic strategy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma(RCC) has been markedly changed since the recent introduction of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including sorafenib and sunitinib, into the clinical practice. In addition to these agents, inhibitors of mTOR(mammalian target of rapamycin) are scheduled to be available in patients with metastatic RCC near future. In this review, we would like to summarize the current status of these molecular targeted agents for the treatment of RCC, and subsequently describe the important issues associated with the administration of these agents, such as the effects on quality of life and the possible use as neoadjuvant setting. Finally, the prospects for the use of molecular targeted agents against urological cancers other than RCC are mentioned.