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Risk factors associated with risk of renal cancer

Principal Investigator
Name
Sara Karami
Institution
NCI, DCEG, OEEB
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO (Learn more about this study)
Project ID
2012-0033
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Apr 4, 2012
Title
Risk factors associated with risk of renal cancer
Summary
Globally, malignant tumors of the kidney account for approximately 4% of cancer diagnoses and 2% of cancer deaths [1]. In the United States (U.S.) kidney cancer is the fifth leading malignant disease among men and the eighth among women [2]. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of the renal parenchyma accounts for over 80% of all kidney cancers [3]. Since the 1950s, there has been a 126% increase in the incidence of RCC in the U.S. with higher rates reported among men than women and among African Americans than Caucasians [4]. The major etiologic risk factors that are thought to explain approximately 50% of RCC cases include obesity (high body mass index or BMI), hypertension, and smoking [3]. Findings from epidemiological studies seem to indicate that obesity may particularly be a risk factor for clear cell RCC (ccRCC), the most common histologic subtype of RCC which accounts for approximately 70% of cases [3, 5]. Other risk factors for RCC such as diabetes, consumption of alcohol, and family history of cancer have not been well-established. Given the large proportion of cases that remain unexplained, the search for additional risk factors is critical to understanding the etiology of RCC. Therefore, to better understand the relationship between RCC and suspected and previously established renal risk factors, we propose to conduct a prospective cohort study using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening (PLCO) Trial.
Aims

§ The primary aim of this proposal includes: (1) Assessing the association between RCC and suspected risk factors (i.e., diabetes, alcohol consumption, and family history of cancer). We hypothesize that subjects with a familial history of cancer or diabetes are at an increased risk for RCC compared to those without a family history of cancer or diabetes. Additionally, we hypothesize that consumption of alcohol is associated with reduced RCC risk. § The secondary aims of this proposal include: (1) Assessing if the association between RCC and suspected risk factors (i.e., diabetes, alcohol consumption, and family history of cancer) is modified by sex, obesity, hypertension or smoking. (2) Assessing the association between clear cell RCC, the most common histology subtype of RCC, in relation to known (i.e., hypertension, obesity, and smoking) and suspected (i.e., diabetes, family history of cancer, and alcohol consumption) renal risk factors.

Collaborators

Mark Purdue (OEEB, DCEG)

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