Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were published in May 2024 and adapted in December 2025 according to previously established standard methodology to produce the Pan-Asian adapted ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of Asian patients with RCC. The adapted guidelines presented in this manuscript represent the consensus opinions reached by a panel of Asian experts in the treatment of patients with RCC representing the oncological societies of China [Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)], Indonesia [Indonesian Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (ISHMO)], India [Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology (ISMPO)], Japan [Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO)], Korea [Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO)], Malaysia [Malaysian Oncological Society (MOS)], The Philippines [Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO)], Singapore [Singapore Society of Oncology (SSO)], Taiwan [Taiwan Oncology Society (TOS)] and Thailand [Thai Society of Clinical Oncology (TSMO)], coordinated by ESMO and the SSO. The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of the current treatment practices, drug access restrictions and reimbursement decisions in the different regions of Asia. The latter are discussed separately in the manuscript. The aim is to provide guidance for the optimisation and harmonisation of the management of patients with RCC across the different countries of Asia, drawing on the evidence provided by both Western and Asian trials. Attention is drawn to the disparity in drug approvals and reimbursement strategies between the different regions.