NICE has launched its consultation on a new draft kidney cancer clinical guideline, which provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis, treatment and care of adults with suspected or confirmed renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. A key focus of the guidance is to reduce variation in treatment and prevent unnecessary kidney surgery, improving care for patients and supporting healthcare professionals.
Currently, when a suspected cancerous kidney lesion is identified, patients often undergo surgery to remove either the entire kidney or a section of it. However, if a biopsy were conducted beforehand, unnecessary surgery could be avoided for patients with benign conditions. This approach would lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses, enhanced treatment planning and a better quality of life for patients.
The new guidance recommends that, within the UK, the number of biopsies conducted for individuals with suspected, localized renal cell carcinoma should be doubled (from ~600 to 1,200 per year). There is also a strong emphasis on ensuring patient involvement and personalized treatment plans, with the recommendation that all patients have access to clinical nurse specialists with kidney cancer expertise to provide personalized care plans, including details of their treatment, follow-up schedules and clear contact information for when they need support.
The new guideline also covers the information and support needed for people affected by kidney cancer throughout all stages of the care pathway, and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of heritable genetic conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing kidney cancer, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL).
“This new guideline on kidney cancer represents a significant step forward in providing useful and useable information to help ensure people receive consistent, high-quality care,” explained Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE.
“Our draft recommendations would likely see an increase in the number of biopsies and a reduction in the number of surgeries for benign lesions, meaning patients are spared an operation they might not need. This is not only better for the patient, but it also saves the NHS time and money that can be used to care for more people,” Benger added.
“Kidney cancer is a devastating disease, and this new useful and useable draft guideline will help to ensure people receive consistent care and support at every stage of their treatment,” commented Grant Stewart, Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Cambridge and topic adviser for the NICE guideline committee.
NICE’s public consultation on the draft kidney cancer clinical guideline is now open and closes on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.