Alexx Ekubo: Inside metastatic kidney cancer and what you should know
By Valerian Khakayi, May 14, 2026The death of Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has drawn attention to metastatic kidney cancer, also known as advanced or stage 4 kidney cancer.
According to a family statement, the actor passed away after complications arising from the disease, which had quietly progressed before his death.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Husband, Son, Brother, and Friend, Alexx Ikenna Ekubo-Okwaraeke. After a brief but courageous battle, Alexx passed away at Evercare Hospital due to complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer,” the statement read in part.
Medical experts note that metastatic kidney cancer is one of the most advanced forms of kidney cancer in adults, and it develops when cancer that starts in the kidney spreads to other parts of the body.
What metastatic kidney cancer means
According to Cancer Research UK, kidney cancer is described as advanced when it has spread beyond the kidney to other organs in the body. At this stage, it is also referred to as metastatic kidney cancer.
“Advanced kidney cancer means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. It is also called ‘metastatic kidney cancer’,” Cancer Research UK stated.
Common areas where kidney cancer spreads include the lungs, bones, liver, brain, and lymph nodes. Once the disease reaches this stage, it is much more difficult to treat and is usually not curable, though treatment can help control its growth and manage symptoms.
How kidney cancer spreads
Kidney cancer begins when abnormal cells in the kidney grow uncontrollably and form a tumour.
In some cases, these cancer cells break away from the original tumour and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
At stage 4, or metastatic stage, the cancer has already spread to distant organs, making it more aggressive and complex to manage.
Symptoms may appear late
One of the challenges with kidney cancer is that early stages often show no clear symptoms. Many people are diagnosed only when the disease is already advanced.
When symptoms do appear, they may include blood in the urine, persistent pain in the side or back, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and occasional fever or night sweats.
If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, additional symptoms depend on the affected area, for example, shortness of breath if it reaches the lungs, bone pain or fractures if it spreads to the bones, and neurological symptoms such as headaches or confusion if it affects the brain.
Treatment focuses on control, not cure
At the metastatic stage, treatment is aimed at controlling the cancer, slowing its progression, and improving quality of life.
“Treatment aims to control the cancer and relieve symptoms,” Cancer Research UK stated.
According to Cancer Research UK, treatment options for metastatic kidney cancer may include immunotherapy drugs that help the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells, as well as targeted therapies that work by blocking specific signals that allow cancer to grow and spread.
In some cases, radiotherapy may be used to relieve symptoms in affected areas of the body, while surgery may still be considered in select situations where the cancer has spread only to limited sites and can be safely removed or controlled
In some cases, doctors may also recommend active monitoring if the disease is slow-growing and not causing severe symptoms.
Survival and outlook
While metastatic kidney cancer is serious and has lower survival rates than early-stage disease, outcomes vary widely depending on how the cancer responds to treatment.
Medical advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapy have improved survival for many patients in recent years, allowing some to live longer with the condition while maintaining quality of life.
Alexx Ekubo’s passing has highlighted a disease that is often silent in its early stages but aggressive once it spreads.
Metastatic kidney cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, but modern medicine continues to improve outcomes through new treatment options.