Although many different treatments have been evaluated in the last thirty years, advanced renal cell carcinoma still has a poor prognosis, characterised by a survival rate which is less than 5% at 3 years from diagnosis. Many different therapeutic approaches have been carried out in addition to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which shows obvious limits such as an overall response rate that does not go above 10-15%. One of the more promising treatments that has been studied the most is undoubtedly immunotherapy. We present a literature review aimed at summing up all the results obtained until now with immunotherapy of renal cell carcinoma, whether alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Unanswered questions of major concern are stressed, such as treatment choice, dosage, the most convenient schedules with particular regard to the cost-benefit issue.
