New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumor is a kidney cancer that primarily affects children, usually appearing before age 5. About 500 children in the U.S. are diagnosed each year. Current treatment combines surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, and cure rates exceed 90% for most cases.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing less intense chemotherapy for low-risk tumors to reduce long-term side effects, and more targeted approaches for high-risk or relapsed disease. Researchers are studying tumor biology to identify which children can safely receive lighter treatment and which need more aggressive therapy.

What to know before you search

Eligibility depends on tumor stage, risk classification based on pathology, whether this is initial diagnosis or relapsed disease, and prior treatments received.

What types of trials are currently open

• Risk-adapted trials — Testing lighter treatment for children with low-risk tumors, using tumor stage and biology to determine who can safely receive less chemotherapy or radiation.
• Relapse trials — Testing new drug combinations, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy for children whose Wilms tumor has returned after initial treatment.
• High-risk trials — Testing more intensive treatment approaches for children with tumors that have high-risk features or have spread beyond the kidney.
• Surgery trials — Studying surgical timing and techniques, including when chemotherapy before surgery might preserve more kidney tissue.
• Long-term follow-up studies — Tracking survivors to understand late effects of treatment on heart, kidneys, fertility, and second cancers.