Continued increase in incidence of renal cell carcinoma, especially in young patients and high grade disease: United States 2001 to 2010

Abstract

Purpose: More than 50,000 Americans were diagnosed with kidney and renal pelvis cancer in 2010. The National Program of Cancer Registries and SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) combined data include cancer incidences from the entire United States. Our study presents updated incidence data, evaluates trends and adds geographic distribution to the literature.

Materials and methods: We examined invasive, microscopically confirmed kidney and renal pelvis cancers diagnosed from 2001 to 2010 that met United States Cancer Statistics reporting criteria for each year, excluding cases diagnosed by autopsy or death certificate. Histology codes classified cases as renal cell carcinoma. Rates and trends were estimated using SEER∗Stat.

Results: A total of 342,501 renal cell carcinoma cases were diagnosed. The renal cell carcinoma incidence rate increased from 10.6/100,000 individuals in 2001 to 12.4/100,000 in 2010 and increased with age until ages 70 to 74 years. The incidence rate in men was almost double that in women. The annual percent change was higher in women than in men, in those 20 to 24 years old and in grade III tumors.

Conclusions: The annual percent change incidence increased from 2001 to 2010. Asian/Pacific Islanders and 20 to 24-year-old individuals had the highest annual percent change. While some increase resulted from localized disease, the highest annual percent change was in grade III tumors, indicating more aggressive disease. Continued monitoring of trends and epidemiological study are warranted to determine risk factors.

Keywords: SEER program; carcinoma; epidemiology; kidney; renal cell; young adult.

Figure 1

RCC incidence and APC by gender and year in U.S. from 2001 to 2010. Data cover about 91.3% of U.S. population. Incidence rates are shown per 100,000 population, age adjusted to 2000 U.S. Standard Population (19 age groups, Census P25-1130) standard. Percent changes were calculated using 1 year per end point and APCs were calculated using weighted least squares method. Asterisk indicates APC significantly different from zero (p <0.05).

Figure 2

RCC incidence by gender and race in U.S. from 2001 to 2010. Data cover about 91.3% of U.S. population. Incidence rates are shown per 100,000 population, age adjusted to 2000 U.S. Standard Population (19 age groups, Census P25-1130) standard.

Figure 3

RCC incidence in U.S. from 2001 to 2010. A, by stage at diagnosis. B, by grade at diagnosis. Data cover about 91.3% of U.S. population. Incidence rates are shown per 100,000 population, age adjusted to 2000 U.S. Standard Population (19 age groups, Census P25-1130) standard. Percent changes were calculated using 1 year per end point. APCs were calculated using weighted least squares method. Asterisk indicates APC significantly different from zero (p <0.05).