Survival Rates for Wilms Tumors
This represents the most up-to-date survival rate information for Wilms tumors.
Survival rates are often used by doctors as a standard way of discussing a person’s prognosis (outlook). These numbers tell you what portion of people in a similar situation (such as with the same type and stage of cancer) are still alive a certain amount of time after they were diagnosed.
Survival rates can’t tell you exactly what will happen with any person, but they may help give you a better understanding about how likely it is that treatment will be successful.
Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates, but they can’t predict what will happen in any one person’s case. These statistics can be confusing and may lead to have more questions. Ask the cancer care team how these numbers might apply to your child.
How are survival rates measured for Wilms tumors?
For Wilms tumors, survival is often measured using a 4-year survival rate. This refers to the percentage of children who live at least 4 years after their cancer is diagnosed.
For example, a 4-year survival rate of 90% means that an estimated 90 out of 100 children who have that cancer are still alive 4 years after being diagnosed. Of course, many children live much longer than 4 years (and many are cured).
To get 4-year survival rates, doctors look at children who were treated at least 4 years ago. Improvements in treatment since then may result in a better outlook for children now being diagnosed with Wilms tumors.
Survival rates can’t predict for sure what will happen in a particular child’s case.
Each child’s outlook can vary based on factors specific to them. The most important factors in determining a child’s outlook are the stage and histology of the tumor. (Histology refers to how the cancer cells look under the microscope – see What Are Wilms Tumors?)
But other factors can also affect a child’s outlook, such as their age, if the cancer cells have certain gene or chromosome changes, and how well the tumor responds to treatment.
Even when taking these other factors into account, survival rates are only rough estimates. Your child’s cancer care team knows your child’s situation best. They can tell you how the numbers below might apply to your child.
Wilms tumor 4-year survival rates
These survival rates are based on the results of the National Wilms Tumor Studies. These studies included most of the children treated in the United States in the last few decades.
Wilms Tumor 4-year Survival Rates |
|||
Tumor Stage |
Favorable Histology |
Focal Anaplastic |
Diffuse Anaplastic |
I |
95% - 100% |
95% - 100%* |
95% - 100%* |
II |
95% - 100% |
80% - 85%* |
80% - 85%* |
III |
90% - 100% |
90% - 100%* |
60% - 80%* |
IV |
90% - 100% |
70% - 75%* |
30% - 70%* |
V |
95% - 100% |
95% - 100% |
65% - 70% |
*These rates are based on small numbers of patients, so it’s hard to know how accurate they are.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Ehrlich P, Chi YY, Chintagumpala MM, et al. Results of the first prospective multi-institutional treatment study in children with bilateral Wilms tumor (AREN0534): A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. Ann Surg. 2017;266(3):470-478.
Fernandez CV, Geller JI, Ehrlich PF, et al. Chapter 24: Renal Tumors. In: Blaney SM, Adamson PC, Helman LJ, eds. Pizzo and Poplack’s Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2021.
National Cancer Institute. Wilms Tumor and Other Childhood Kidney Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. 2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney/hp/wilms-treatment-pdq on November 22, 2024.
Last Revised: January 21, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.
