OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Determine the maximum tolerated dose of radiation in patients undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy for renal tumors.
* Determine radiotherapy-associated toxicity in these patients.
Secondary
* Determine preoperative pathologic response to this regimen in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of radiotherapy.
* Radiotherapy: Patients undergo stereotactic radiotherapy to 1 tumor. Cohorts of 4-8 patients receive escalating doses of radiotherapy twice daily for 2 days until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or upper limit is reached. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 2 of 4 or 3 of 8 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). DLT is assessed at 4 and 8 weeks after radiotherapy.
* Surgery: Two months after completion of radiotherapy, patients undergo preoperative assessment of tumor response followed by partial nephrectomy.
After completion of study therapy, patients are followed periodically for at least 2 years.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20 patients will be accrued for this study.
