Differences in Immunologic Response to Cryoablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Differences in Immunologic Response to Cryoablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to compare changes in the body's self-defense (immune response) after two different treatments for small kidney tumors: 1) Cryoablation (freezing) therapy in which the tumor and a margin of normal kidney tissue are frozen and thawed twice with a needle probe and 2) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in which radiofrequency energy delivered through a needle probe is used to heat tissue and thereby destroy a tumor.

Inclusion Criteria:

• You are eligible to participate in this study if you are an adult (older than 18 years)
• Diagnosed with renal cell cancer 1-3 centimeters in size on the CT scan.

Exclusion Criteria:

• You are not eligible to participate in this study if you are immune compromised (chemotherapy,corticosteroid use, HIV [as documented in your medical record], etc.)
• Have an autoimmune disorders (Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, etc)
• Have a tumor larger than 4 cm
• Are pregnant.