A new analysis published in European Urology provides updated insights into the global epidemiology of renal cancer, including incidence, mortality, survival outcomes, genetic predisposition, and risk factors.
In 2022, an estimated 434,840 new cases of renal cancer were reported worldwide, alongside 155,953 deaths. Rates varied substantially across regions, with the highest incidence recorded in Belarus (14.1 cases per 100,000) and the lowest in Sierra Leone (0.04 per 100,000). Europe and Asia accounted for nearly 70 percent of all new cases, while North America contributed 18 percent.
Projections suggest a considerable rise in disease burden: by 2050, cases are expected to increase by 72 percent to 745,791 annually, and deaths by 96 percent to 304,861.
Five-year overall survival rates range between 40 percent and 75 percent, depending on geographic area and patient characteristics. The study emphasizes the role of germline pathogenic variants in several genes, including VHL, ELOC, TSC1/2, MET, FLCN, BAP1, BRCA2, and ATM.
According to the authors, genetic testing is particularly indicated for patients diagnosed at a younger age, with multifocal or bilateral tumors, or with a family history of renal cancer in first- or second-degree relatives.
The analysis distinguishes between risk factors that can be altered through intervention and those that cannot. Nonmodifiable risks include sex, geography, ethnicity, and family history. Modifiable factors identified include obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, smoking, occupational or environmental exposures, and physical inactivity.
For pathologists and laboratory professionals, these findings underscore the growing importance of early detection and risk-adapted strategies. Understanding the distribution of cases and genetic predisposition markers may aid selective use of molecular testing and targeted surveillance approaches.
The authors conclude that epidemiologic data on renal cancer can help inform prevention, genetic testing guidelines, and allocation of healthcare resources as global incidence continues to rise.
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