Family history and risk of renal cell carcinoma

Few analytical epidemiological studies have investigated family history (FH ) of urinary tract cancers as a potential risk factor for renal cell carcin oma (RCC). A population-based case-control study involving 550 non-Asian RC C patients 25 to 74 years of age and an equal number of sex-, age-, and rac e-matched neighborhood controls was conducted in Los Angeles, California. D etailed information on FH of cancer, medical and medication histories, and other life-style factors was obtained through in-person interviews. Having a first-degree relative with kidney cancer was associated with a significan tly increased risk of RCC [odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (C I), 1.04-5.9] after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Having a first and/or second-degree relative with kidney cancer was similarly associ ated with an increased risk of RCC (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4-6.3). Risk factors for RCC identified in the Los Angeles study include cigarette smoking, chr onic obesity, history of hypertension, regular use of analgesics and amphet amines, intake of cruciferous vegetables (protective), and history of hyste rectomy. None of the above risk factor-RCC associations differed significan tly between RCC cases with and without a FH of kidney cancer. A FH of urina ry tract cancers other than kidney cancer was not associated with RCC risk (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3-1.7). A FH of nonurinary tract cancers also was unrel ated to RCC risk (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.9-1.5).