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Mohamad Ezzeddine Allaf, M.D.
- Urologist-in-Chief, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Jakurski Family Director
- Director, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
- Director, Department of Urology
Expertise: Kidney Cancer, Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Urology
Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
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Justin Omar Benabdallah, M.D.
Expertise: Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Bladder Cancer, Endourology, Kidney Cancer
Primary Location: Sibley Medical Building, Washington, DC
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Misop Han, M.D.
- David Hall McConnell Professor of Urology and Oncology
- Medical Director, Credentials Committee, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Director, Urology Informatics
Expertise: Kidney Cancer, Laparoscopic Nephrectomy, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Robotic Surgery
Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance), Baltimore, MD
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Thomas William Jarrett, M.D.
- Chief of Urology, National Capital Region
Expertise: Adrenal Tumors, Kidney Cancer, Kidney Cysts, Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Lower Urinary Tract Reconstruction
Primary Location: Sibley Medical Building, Washington, DC
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Max Kates, M.D.
- Division Director, Urologic Oncology
- Director, Bladder Cancer Program
Expertise: Bladder Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Cystectomy, Robotic Prostatectomy, Robotic Surgery
Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
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Christian Paul Pavlovich, M.D.
- Bernard L. Schwartz Distinguished Professor in Urologic Oncology
- Director, Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Program
- Director, Urologic Oncology Fellowship
- Co-Director, Prostate Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinics
Expertise: Active Surveillance for Kidney Cancer, Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy
Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (now called Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center), Baltimore, MD
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Nirmish Singla, M.D., M.Sc.
- Director of Translational Research in GU Oncology
- Director, Kidney Cancer Program
- Co-Director, Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer (UTUC) Program
- Vice Chair and Physician Advisor for Quality, Safety, & Service, Brady Urological Institute
Expertise: Active Surveillance for Kidney Cancer, Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer, Adrenal Cancer, Adrenal Surgery, Adrenalectomy
Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance), Baltimore, MD
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Armine K Smith, M.D.
- Director, Johns Hopkins Urologic Oncology at Sibley Memorial Hospital
Expertise: Bladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery, Laparoscopic Nephrectomy, Minimally Invasive Surgery
Primary Location: Sibley Medical Building, Washington, DC
Conditions We Treat: Kidney Cancer
Treatment for kidney cancer can vary widely depending on the tumor’s stage and whether the cancer has spread to other organs. Small tumors may not need immediate surgery, while cancer that has spread will require a complex and multidisciplinary approach.
Partial Nephrectomy | Bobby Labonte's Story
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte was diagnosed with a kidney tumor in 2019, later identified as renal cell carcinoma. After monitoring the tumor’s slow growth over the next two years, Labonte’s tumor had tripled in size, at which point doctors told him it was time for surgery. At the Brady Urological Institute, he had a successful partial nephrectomy to remove the tumor while preserving 90% of his kidney function. Watch urologic surgeons Mohamad Allaf and Nirmish Singla discuss the journey to recovery with Labonte and his wife.
Kidney Cancer: Why Choose Johns Hopkins
- We use the most advanced treatment options such as robotic surgery, minimally invasive surgical techniques and active surveillance to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient.
- Our team includes experts in surgery (urologists), cancer (oncologists) and kidney disease (nephrologists). This multidisciplinary approach is especially important for kidney cancer that may have spread (metastasized).
- For aggressive or advanced cancers, our urologic oncologists and medical oncologists use their expertise with the latest treatments and combinations of approaches — including surgery, systemic therapy and clinical trials — to treat cancer.
- We actively conduct research into kidney cancer, and apply our findings to treatments. For example, our research shows that many kidney cancer patients with small tumors can be followed safely without the need for immediate surgery.
Request An Appointment Request An Appointment
Schedule by phone
Adults: 410-955-6100
Pediatrics: 410-955-6108
Kidney Cancer Experts
Each member of our kidney cancer team is dedicated to providing compassionate care while developing the most effective, advanced and personalized treatment plan for you.
Surgeons
Medical Oncologists
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Yasser Mohamed Ali Ged, M.B.B.S.
Primary Location: Skip Viragh Outpatient Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
Radiation Oncologists
Daniel Y Song, M.D.
Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
Treatment for Kidney Cancer
One size does not fit all when it comes to kidney cancer treatment. Your surgeon will tailor treatment options depending on the extent of your cancer, whether it has spread to other organs and if you have any other health conditions.
For small tumors that have not spread, you may be a candidate for our active surveillance program, in which you will receive regular observation and imaging, but treatment is delayed unless the tumor grows.
Our experts treat hundreds of patients each year using a complete range of surgical techniques:
Open Surgery
- Nephrectomy with vein/vena cava involvement
- Radical nephrectomy (total kidney removal)
- Partial nephrectomy (kidney-sparing surgery)
Minimally Invasive Techniques
- Robotic kidney surgery
- Laparoscopic radical or partial nephrectomy
- Thermal ablation
While surgery is the primary treatment for kidney cancer, some treatments may also include complementary therapies, such as radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.