Renal Cell Cancer in African Americans: An Epidemiologic Review
Author Information
Author(s): Loren Lipworth, Robert E. Tarone, Joseph K. McLaughlin
Primary Institution: International Epidemiology Institute
Hypothesis
What factors contribute to the differences in incidence and mortality patterns of renal cell cancer among blacks and whites?
Conclusion
The study highlights that renal cell cancer may be less aggressive in blacks, despite higher incidence rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Incidence rates for renal cell cancer have been rising more rapidly among blacks than whites.
- Mortality rates for this cancer have been virtually identical among blacks and whites since the early 1990s.
- Factors like obesity, hypertension, and smoking account for less than half of renal cell cancers among whites.
Takeaway
This study looks at why more black people are getting kidney cancer but not dying from it compared to white people. It suggests that the cancer might not be as serious for them.
Methodology
The authors conducted a review of epidemiologic studies of risk factors for renal cell cancer identified through a PubMed search.
Potential Biases
The review may be limited by the small number of studies that separate results for blacks and whites.
Limitations
There is a lack of detailed etiologic studies specifically focusing on renal cell cancer among blacks.
Participant Demographics
The review focuses on African Americans and compares them with whites.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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