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Current Research
Kidney Cancer

Body Size, Physical Activity, and Renal Cell Cancer

  • The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study analyzed the association between body mass index (BMI) and physical activity to renal cell cancer (RCC) in a cohort of participants aged 50-71 years at baseline.
  • At baseline (1995-1996), participants reported their frequency of exercise of at least 20 minutes' duration, intensity of daily routine activity, and frequency of physical activity during adolescence.
  • Detailed analyses were conducted in a subcohort responding to a second questionnaire, including BMI at younger ages (18, 35, and 50 years); weight change across three consecutive age intervals; waist, hip, and waist-to-hip ratio; and height at age 18 years.
  • Weight gain in early (18-35 years of age) and mid- (35-50 years of age) adulthood was strongly associated with RCC, whereas weight gain after midlife (age 50 years to baseline) was unrelated. Waist-to-hip ratio was positively associated with RCC in women and with height at age 18 years in both men and women.
  • Increased physical activity, including activity during adolescence, was associated with reduced risk of RCC.

Physical Activity and Renal Cell Cancer in Cohort of Male Smokers

  • A cohort of approximately 30,000 male smokers 50-69 years of age in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study examined the association between leisure-time and occupational physical activity and renal cell cancer (RCC).
  • Physical activity was assessed at baseline using a self-administered questionnaire that inquired about usual level of physical activity during leisure-time and at work during the past year.
  • During 12 years of follow-up, over 200 incident cases of RCC were identified.
  • Data suggest that recreational physical activity may play a role in the prevention of RCC in men.

Central and Eastern Europe Kidney Cancer

  • This hospital-based case-control study of kidney cancer evaluated occupational and other risk factors for kidney cancer in seven centers across the central and eastern Europe, where the rates are especially high.
  • The study population included over 2,500 participants (both cases and controls).
  • In-person interviews collected information on demographic background, smoking and passive smoke exposure, alcohol drinking, dietary practices, height, weight and medical history, family history of cancer, residential history, and occupational history.
  • The study found an increased risk for self-reported hypertension and for obesity, which are likely to contribute in part to the high rate in this region.