title: The epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal cancer is a frequently occurring malignancy with over 270,000 new cases diagnosed and it being responsible for 110,000 deaths annually on a global basis. Incidence rates have gradually increased whilst mortality rates are starting to plateau.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current data is based on a thorough review of available original and review articles on epidemiology and risk factors for renal cancer with a systemic literature search utilising Medline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of associated risk factors such as genetic susceptibility, smoking, hypertension and obesity are changing and could account for the changes in incidence whilst the role of diet and occupational exposure to carcinogens requires further investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the evidence of various associated risk factors, further work is required from well designed studies to gain a greater understanding of the etiology of renal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer, College of MVLS, University of Glasgow, Western Infirmary, UK ; School of Medicine, College of MVLS, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qayyum
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Grenville
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oades
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, College of MVLS, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Horgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gartnaval General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aitchison
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer, College of MVLS, University of Glasgow, Western Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edwards
keywords: Epidemiology; Renal cancer; Risk factors