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. 2022 Sep 23:12:951976.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.951976. eCollection 2022.

Thyroid and renal cancers: A bidirectional association

Maria Irene Bellini  1 , Eleonora Lori  1 , Flavio Forte  2 , Augusto Lauro  1 , Domenico Tripodi  1 , Maria Ida Amabile  1 , Vito Cantisani  3 , Marzia Varanese  1 , Iulia Catalina Ferent  1 , Enke Baldini  1 , Salvatore Ulisse  1 , Vito D'Andrea  1 , Daniele Pironi  1 , Salvatore Sorrenti  1
Affiliations

Thyroid and renal cancers: A bidirectional association

Maria Irene Bellini et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

There is a deep interrelation between the thyroid gland and the kidney parenchyma, with dysfunction of the first leading to significant changes in renal metabolism and vice versa. Given the recognition of cancer as a systemic disease, the raise of thyroid tumors and the common association of several malignancies, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and other, with an increased risk of kidney disease, public health alert for these conditions is warranted. A systematic review of the current evidence on the bidirectional relationship between thyroid and renal cancers was conducted including 18 studies, highlighting patient's characteristics, histology, time for secondary malignancy to develop from the first diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. A total of 776 patients were identified; median age was 64 years (range: 7-76 years). Obesity and family history were identified as the most common risk factors, and genetic susceptibility was suggested with a potential strong association with Cowden syndrome. Controversy on chemo and radiotherapy effects was found, as not all patients were previously exposed to these treatments. Men were more likely to develop kidney cancer after a primary thyroid malignancy, with 423/776 (54%) experiencing renal disease secondarily. Median time after the first malignancy was 5.2 years (range: 0-20 years). With the advancement of current oncological therapy, the prognosis for thyroid cancer patients has improved, although there has been a corresponding rise in the incidence of multiple secondary malignancy within the same population, particularly concerning the kidney. Surgery can achieve disease-free survival, if surveillance follow-up allows for an early localized form, where radical treatment is recommended.

Keywords: cancer risk; cancer surveillance and screening; multiple cancer; renal cancer; thyroid cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk factors for the development of thyroid and kidney cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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