Rationale of the present study For several decades, the systemic management of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) was confined to the use of interferon (IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Recently, options for the medical management of mRCC have been improved through the introduction of agents targeting tumour angiogenesis or intracellular pathways mediating growth and proliferation. Among these agents are the small molecule inhibitors sorafenib (Nexavar), sunitinib (Sutent), temsirolimus (Torisel) and everolimus, and the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin). All these targeted agents have been shown significantly to extend progression-free or overall survival or both when compared with placebo or IFN therapy in the treatment of mRCC.