The epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer.

BACKGROUND Renal cancer is a frequently occurring malignancy with over 270,000 new cases diagnosed and it being responsible for 110,000 deaths annually on a global basis. Incidence rates have gradually increased whilst mortality rates are starting to plateau. OBJECTIVE To review epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer. METHODS The current data is based on a thorough review of available original and review articles on epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer with a systemic literature search utilising Medline. RESULTS The prevalence of associated risk factors such as genetic susceptibility, smoking, hypertension and obesity are changing and could account for the changes in incidence whilst the role of diet and occupational exposure to carcinogens requires further investigation. CONCLUSION Despite the evidence of various associated risk factors, further work is required from well designed studies to gain a greater understanding of the etiology of renal cancer.