A population-based study of renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer in the same patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of prostate cancer in men with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the incidence of RCC in men with prostate cancer.


METHODS
We evaluated the database of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute from 1973 to 1996, to calculate the incidence of RCC in men with prostate cancer and the incidence of prostate cancer in men with RCC. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR, observed/expected) was calculated for each of the scenarios of interest, as well as for RCC and prostate cancer in men with other common malignancies. Lung/bronchus cancer, colon/rectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were selected for the control scenarios because they are the most common non-urological cancers among men in the USA.


RESULTS
There was a higher incidence of RCC in men with prostate cancer (SIR 1.25, P < 0.01). RCC incidence was also higher in men with each of the other malignancies. Prostate cancer incidence was higher in men with RCC (SIR 1.42, P < 0.001), but was not significantly elevated for any of the control scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of RCC is higher in men with each of the index cancers, whereas that for prostate cancer was higher only in men with RCC. A common aetiological factor is possible. However, it is also possible that detection bias explains these findings. Serial imaging might increase the detection of RCC among patients with a variety of index malignancies. Patients with RCC who are followed by a urologist might be screened more rigorously for prostate cancer than patients with other primary malignancies, leading to increased detection in these men.
Barocas
Daniel A
DA
Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Foundation, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Rabbani
Farhang
F
Scherr
Douglas S
DS
Vaughan
E Darracott
ED
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018426:SEER Program