Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common kidney cancer with a quite poor prognosis in adults. Accumulating studies indicated that inflammation is involved in tumorgenesis and development of various human cancers including renal cancer. Chemokines, originally identified as mediators of inflammation, are a group of small molecular secreted proteins which have chemotactic effect. Chemokines play their role in immune response process through attracting leukocyte moving directionally. However, a lot of evidences suggest that chemokines are closely related to tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Moreover, chemokine receptors such as CXCR2, CXCR3 and CXCR4 play very important role in the progression of RCC. We now review the research progress of chemokines and chemokine receptors in renal cell carcinoma progression, for further understanding of the mechanisms in its growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis mediated by chemokines. And ultimately provide new therapeutic strategies for RCC patients.