To perform a series of in vivo cytotoxicity studies using a variety of doses of the comptothecin analogues 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) and Irinotecan (CPT-11) with a human RCC xenograft tumor line (DU11983m). Using the subrenal capsule assay (80 nude mice) (NM-SRCA), 9-AC was evaluated at both low and high dosage levels (0.75 mg/kg and 1.25 mg/kg oral x10 doses over 12 days). Following an initial assessment of acute tumor inhibition, the study was extended to a survival assay with some cohorts receiving retreatment boluses on a once or twice weekly basis. CPT-11 was assessed at a dose of 100 mg/kg x3 over 9 days with weekly retreatment and two cohorts received 9-AC combined with Vinblastine (2.7 mg/kg) and Vinblastine alone, respectively. Tumor inhibition: tumor growth inhibition was significant (over 80%) with all cohorts receiving any camptothecin analogue and was virtually complete (>99% tumor inhibition) at the high dose 9-AC (1.25 mg/kg). Vinblastine alone achieved only moderate cytotoxic effect (46%) and induced the largest recorded cohort weight loss (toxicity). Survival analysis: the low and high dose 9-AC single agent cohorts were not significantly different; however, the CPT-11 cohort experienced maximal survival benefit. (P = 0.003) and the addition of Vinblastine did not enhance this survival advantage among the 9-AC cohorts. Control and single agent Vinblastine cohorts had the poorest survival with the treated group still surviving longer (P = 0.02). At 35 days after final assessment of acute tumor inhibition, all animals in both the control and Vinblastine alone cohorts were dead. None of the animals in any of the other cohorts (all of which had experienced a greater than 80% tumor inhibition) had died. No deaths occurred due to surgery or treatment toxicity and all deaths were deemed tumor related. CPT-11 and 9-AC produced a marked survival advantage in an orthotopic model of human advanced renal carcinoma and are identified as agents for further clinical assessment.