The review presents current literary information on basic forms of kidney cancer (clear cell carcinoma, chromophil or papillary cancer, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, oncocytoma, Bellini carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma), their morphological characteristics and principles of classification. Modern histological classification of renal cancer is based on immunohistochemical evidence on markers of various nephron segments, this allowing to specify histogenesis of separate forms of renal cell carcinoma. In addition, cytogenetic studies of renal carcinoma reveal correlations between genetic changes in cancer cells and tumor phenotype found at light microscopy. Thus, current classification of renal carcinoma characterizes biology of these neoplasms. This should be taken into account in prognostication and design of new treatment methods.