Race affects access to nephrectomy but not survival in renal cell carcinoma

Geographic Distribution of Racial Differences in Renal Cell Carcinoma Mortality

OBJECTIVE

To examine the geographic variations in Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) -specific death disparities from competing causes among Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander RCC patients. RCC outcomes in specific racial/ethnic population warrants further research and it is unknown whether racial/ethnic differences in RCC survival vary geographically within the US.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess all RCC patients from 2014 to 2021. Data was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The primary outcome was RCC-related mortality.

RESULTS

The study included 85,975 patients with RCC from 16 geographic areas within the SEER database. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Hispanic patients had the worst survival outcome (P < .001 by log rank test). In the multivariable competing-risks regression, Hispanics had a higher risk of cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% CI, 1.20-1.38, P ˂ .001) compared with non-Hispanic Whites. The increase in the risk of RCC-related death with Hispanic race/ethnicity was consistent across all major subgroups stratified by the covariables. In stratified analyses of geographic regions, there were 3 areas in which Hispanics had worse RCC-specific survival (Los Angeles: HR 1.22, 95% CI, 1.06-1.41, P = .005; Greater California: HR 1.125, 95% CI, 1.15-1.37, P < .001; Atlanta, Georgia: HR 1.95, 95% CI, 1.32-2.88, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that population-level variations in RCC survival among Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites were associated with a small number of geographic regions. Targeted interventions in these regions may be conducive to alleviating RCC care differences at the national level.

A population-based study on incidence trends of kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the United States over 2000-2020

Cancers of the kidney and renal pelvis are among the most prevalent types of urinary cancers. We aimed to outline the incidence trends of kidney and renal pelvis cancers by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and histology in the United States (US) from 2000 to 2020. The data was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 22 database. The identification of patients with kidney and renal pelvis cancers with morphologies of renal cell carcinoma, nephroblastoma, sarcoma, and neuroendocrine tumor was conducted utilizing the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology version 3. The average annual percent change (AAPC) were presented. All estimates were given in the form of counts and delayed age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) per 100,000 people. From 2000 to 2019, a total of 490,481 cases of kidney and renal pelvic cancer were recorded across all age groups in the US. The majority of them were among Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) (69.75%) and those aged 55-69 years (39.96%). The ASIRs per 100,000 for kidney and pelvis cancers were 22.03 for men and 11.14 for women. Non-Hispanic Black men had the highest ASIR (24.53 [24.24, 24.81]), and increase in ASIR over the 2000-2019 period (AAPC: 2.19% [1.84, 2.84]). There was a noticeable increase in incidence of kidney and renal pelvis cancers. Individuals aged 70-84 years had the highest ASIR for kidney and renal pelvis cancers. The COVID-19 era has resulted in a significant reduction in incidence rates across all demographics.

Racial disparities in nephrectomy and mortality among patients with renal cell carcinoma: Findings from SEER

PURPOSE

To assess racial differences in the receipt of nephrectomy in patients diagnosed RCC in the US.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

2005 to 2015 data from the SEER database was analyzed and 70,059 patients with RCC were identified. We compared demographic and tumor characteristics between black patients and white patients. We applied logistic regression to assess the association between race and the odds of the receipt of nephrectomy. We also applied Cox proportional hazards model to assess the impact of race on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in patients diagnosed with RCC in the US.

RESULTS

Black patients had 18% lower odds of receiving nephrectomy compared to white patients (p < 0.0001). The odds of the receipt of nephrectomy also reduced with age at diagnosis. In addition, patients with T3 stage had the greatest odds of receiving nephrectomy when compared to T1 (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the risk of cancer-specific mortality between black patients and white patients; black patients had 27% greater odds of all-cause mortality than white patients (p < 0.0001). Patients who did not receive nephrectomy had a 42% and 35% higher risk of CSM and ACM respectively, when compared to patients who received nephrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Black patients diagnosed with RCC in the US have a greater ACM risk and are less likely than white patients to receive nephrectomy. Systemic changes are needed to eliminate racial disparity in the treatment and outcomes of RCC in the US.

Disparities in Clinical Care and Research in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Disparities in cancer screening, prevention, therapy, clinical outcomes, and research are increasingly recognized and pervade all malignancies. In response, several cancer research and clinical care organizations have issued policy statements to acknowledge and address barriers to achieving health equity in cancer care. The increasingly specialized nature of oncology warrants a disease-focused appraisal of existing disparities and potential solutions. Although clear improvements in clinical outcomes have been recently observed for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), these improvements have not been equally shared across diverse populations. This review describes existing RCC cancer disparities and their potential contributing factors and discusses opportunities to improve health equity in clinical research for all patients with RCC.

Disparities in Cancer Specific and Overall Survival Outcomes in African Americans With Renal Cell Carcinoma: Analysis From the International Marker Consortium for Renal Cancer (INMARC)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate association of African-American race and survival in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We queried the International Marker Consortium for Renal Cancer database for patients who underwent partial or radical (RN) nephrectomy. The cohort was divided into African American (AA) and non-African American (NAA) patients. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome was cancer-specific mortality. Multivariable Analysis and Kaplan-Meier Analysis were used to elucidate predictive factors and survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Three thousand eight hundred and ninety-three patients were analyzed (AA, n = 564/NAA, n = 3329). AA had greater Stage I (73.8% vs 63.9%, P <.001) and papillary RCC (29.8% vs 8.5%, P <.001). Multivariable Analysis revealed increasing age (HR = 1.03, P <.001), AA (HR = 1.24, P = .027), higher stage (HR = 1.30-3.19, P <.001), RN (HR = 2.45, P <.001), clear cell (HR = 1.23, P <.001), positive margin (HR = 1.34, P .004), and high-grade (HR = 1.58, P <.001) to be associated with worsened all-cause mortality. Increasing age (HR = 1.02, P <.001), AA (HR = 1.48, P = .025), RN (HR = 2.98, P <.001), high-grade (HR = 3.11, P <.001), and higher stage (HR = 3.03-13.2, P <.001) were predictive for cancer-specific mortality. Kaplan-Meier Analysis revealed worsened 5-year overall survival for AA in stage I (80% vs 88%, P = .001), stage III (26% vs 70%, P = .001), and stage IV (23% vs 44%, P = .009). Five-year cancer-specific survival was worse for AA in stage III (36% vs 81%, P <.001) and stage IV (30% vs 49%, P = .007).

CONCLUSION

Despite presenting with more indolent histology and lower stage, African-Americans were at greater risk for diminished survival, faring worse in overall survival for all stages and cancer-specific survival in for stage III/IV RCC. Further investigation into factors associated with these disparities is warranted.

Analysis and Prediction of the Survival Trends of Patients with Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Model-Based Period Analysis, 2001-2015

BACKGROUND

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide whose poor prognosis results in a serious disease burden on patients. The changing trend of the long-term relative survival rates (RSRs) of patients with ccRCC was analyzed in this study to evaluate their treatment results over a 15-year period.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective study, which assessed and predicted the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of patients with ccRCC during 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2020 using data extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Period analysis was used in this study to analyze the data from the SEER database and to assess survival differences according to age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) during the 15-year study period by comparing Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

During 2001-2015, the 5-year RSR of patients with ccRCC increased from 78.4% to 83.0%, and the generalized linear model predicted that the 5-year RSR increased to 85.7% during 2016-2020. The RSR of patients with ccRCC differed significantly with SES, race, sex, and age. Compared with male patients, the survival advantage of female patients decreased as their age increased. The RSR of all patients with ccRCC was also lower in patients with a lower SES and of black race.

CONCLUSION

This study found an improvement in the RSR of patients with ccRCC during 2001-2020. Understanding the change trend of the survival rate of patients with ccRCC is helpful to improve the design of clinical trials. It also provides basic data and a scientific basis for evaluating the harm of ccRCC on the health of affected patients and the effect of cancer prevention, and developing cancer prevention plans.

The Association Between Race and 5-year Survival in Patients With Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if race was associated with 5-year cause-specific survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Outcomes were investigated using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database with data from 13 states between the years 2007-2015. Covariates included age, sex, insurance, marital status, and tumor stage at diagnosis. Patients <18 years old or with missing data for race, survival time or insurance status were excluded. Cox regression models were used to determine associations through hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and to adjust for covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 8421 subjects were included in the analysis. After adjustment, there was no association between race and 5-year cause-specific survival in patients with ccRCC (Black- HR: 0.96, 95%CI: 0.83,1.12; American Indian/Alaskan- HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 0.75,1.36; Asian Pacific Islander- HR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.82,1.12). Older individuals and those with regional or distant tumors showed an increased hazard of death, while females and insured patients showed decreased hazard.

CONCLUSION

Our study found that race was not associated with 5-year cause-specific survival from clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However inferior overall survival in Blacks with RCC has been well demonstrated in the literature. Our findings suggest that differences in survival may not be driven by cause-specific factors such as renal cell carcinoma, but rather social determinants of health which disproportionality affect Black patients. Further studies with more power that incorporate information on income, comorbidities, education status, and access to care are therefore necessary.

Racial and ethnic differences in survival in contemporary metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients, according to alternative treatment modalities

PURPOSE

To test the association between African-American race and overall mortality (OM) rates in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

METHODS

Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry (2006-2015), we identified patients with clear cell (ccmRCC) and non-clear cell mRCC (non-ccmRCC). African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics were identified. Stratification was made according to histology and treatments: (1) no treatment, (2) systemic therapy (ST), (3) cytoreductive nephrectomy (CNT), (4) CNT + ST. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used.

RESULTS

Of ccmRCC patients, 410 (7%), 4353 (75%), and 1005 (17%) were African-American, Caucasian, and Hispanic, respectively. Of non-ccmRCC patients, 183 (25%), 479 (65%), and 77 (10%) were African-American, Caucasian, and Hispanic, respectively. In ccmRCC, African-Americans were associated with higher OM rates (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.05-1.37). Conversely, in non-ccmRCC, African-Americans were associated with lower OM rates (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.59-0.97).

CONCLUSION

African-American race is associated with prolonged survival in non-ccmRCC, but it is also associated with lower survival rates in ccmRCC. The exception to these observations consisted of patients treated with combination of CNT + ST for either ccmRCC or non-ccmRCC.

Racial Disparities and Preventive Measures to Renal Cell Carcinoma

Kidney cancer ranks among the top 10 cancers in the United States. Although it affects both male and female populations, it is more common in males. The prevalence rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which represents about 85% of kidney cancers, has been increasing gradually in many developed countries. Family history has been considered as one of the most relevant risk factors for kidney cancer, although most forms of an inherited predisposition for RCC only account for less than four percent. Lifestyle and other factors such as occupational exposure, high blood pressure, poor diet, and heavy cigarette smoking are highly associated with its incidence and mortality rates. In the United States, White populations have the lowest prevalence of RCC compared to other ethnic groups, while Black Americans suffer disproportionally from the adverse effects of RCC. Hence, this review article aims at identifying the major risk factors associated with RCC and highlighting the new therapeutic approaches for its control/prevention. To achieve this specific aim, articles in peer-reviewed journals with a primary focus on risk factors related to kidney cancer and on strategies to reduce RCC were identified. The review was systematically conducted by searching the databases of MEDLINE, PUBMED Central, and Google Scholar libraries for original articles. From the search, we found that the incidence and mortality rates of RCC are strongly associated with four main risk factors, including family history (genetics), lifestyle (poor diet, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol drinking), environment (community where people live), and occupation (place where people work). In addition, unequal access to improvement in RCC cancer treatment, limited access to screening and diagnosis, and limited access to kidney transplant significantly contribute to the difference observed in survival rate between African Americans and Caucasians. There is also scientific evidence suggesting that some physicians contribute to racial disparities when performing kidney transplant among minority populations. New therapeutic measures should be taken to prevent or reduce RCC, especially among African Americans, the most vulnerable population group.

Ethnic disparities in renal cell carcinoma: An analysis of Hispanic patients in a single-payer healthcare system

OBJECTIVE

To investigate differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites diagnosed with and treated for renal cell carcinoma in an equal access healthcare system.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort study within the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system using records from renal cell carcinoma cases. Ethnicity was identified as Hispanic or non-Hispanic whites. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, tumor characteristics and treatment were compared. Overall and disease-specific survival was calculated, and a Cox proportion hazard model estimated the association of ethnicity and survival.

RESULTS

A total of 2577 patients (2152 non-Hispanic whites, 425 Hispanic) were evaluated. Hispanics were diagnosed at a younger age (59.6 years vs 65.3 years). Clear cell renal cell carcinoma was more prevalent, whereas papillary renal cell carcinoma was less common among Hispanics. Hispanics had a lower American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (I/II vs III/IV) than non-Hispanic whites (67.4% vs 62.2%). Hispanics were found to have a greater frequency of comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes, but were more likely to receive surgery. The presence of metastases, nodal involvement, increased tumor size, non-surgical management, increasing age and Hispanic ethnicity were independent predictors of worse cancer-specific outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Within an equal access healthcare system, Hispanics seem to be diagnosed at younger ages, to have greater comorbidities and to present more frequently with clear cell renal cell carcinoma compared with non-Hispanic white patients. Despite lower stage and greater receipt of surgery, Hispanic ethnicity seems to be an independent predictor of mortality. Further work is necessary to confirm these findings.

Racial disparities in renal cell carcinoma: a single-payer healthcare experience

Significant racial disparities in survival for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) exist between white and black patients. Differences in access to care and comorbidities are possible contributors. To investigate if racial disparities persist when controlling for access to care, we analyzed data from a single-payer healthcare system. As part of a case-control study within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California system, pathologic and clinical records were obtained for RCC cases (2152 white, 293 black) diagnosed from 1998 to 2008. Patient demographics, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and treatment status were compared. Overall survival and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportion hazards model estimated the independent associations of race, comorbidity, and clinicopathologic variables with DSS. We found that compared to white patients, black patients were diagnosed at a younger age (median 62 vs. 66 years, P < 0.001), were more likely to have papillary RCC (15% vs. 5.2%, P < 0.001), and had similar rates of surgical treatment (78.8% vs. 77.9%, P = 0.764). On multivariate analysis, advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, lack of surgical treatment, larger tumor size, and higher grade were predictors of worse DSS. Race was not an independent predictor of survival. Therefore, we conclude that within a single healthcare system, differences in characteristics of black and white patients with RCC persist; black patients had different comorbidities, were younger, and had decreased tumor stage. However, unlike other series, race was not an independent predictor of DSS, suggesting that survival differences in large registries may result from barriers to healthcare access and/or comorbidity rather than disease biology.

Nonclinical Factors Predict Selection of Initial Observation for Renal Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of observation utilization over time and to identify factors influencing its use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the National Cancer Data Base, we studied observation utilization in patients diagnosed with localized renal cell carcinoma from 2003 to 2010. Relationships between temporal, demographic, provider, and clinical factors and the likelihood of observation were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 109,410 analyzed patients, 7047 (6.4%) underwent observation with stable use over time (range, 6.1% to 6.8%). Patient and disease factors were the strongest predictors of observation. Specifically, the odds of biopsy were 1.8-11 times higher for elderly or comorbid patients and 1.6-8.4 times higher for small (clinical T1a), biopsied, or bilateral tumors (P <.01 for all). Racial and socioeconomic factors also significantly predicted observation usage. In particular, observation rates were higher among poor, African American, and uninsured or socially insured patients, with these groups having 1.2-3.5 times higher odds of observation (P <.01). Patients receiving care at community, low-volume, or nearby hospitals were also significantly more likely to undergo observation (P <.01).

CONCLUSION

Despite the continued rise in the incidence of incidental renal masses, initial observation use has remained stable. In accordance with treatment guidelines, observation is preferentially utilized in elderly and comorbid patients. However, nonclinical factors also predict observation use, suggesting that utilization may be influenced by racial and socioeconomic disparities in health care quality.

Survival among Black and White patients with renal cell carcinoma in an equal-access health care system

PURPOSE

Unequal access to health care may be a reason for shorter survival among Black patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than among their White counterparts. No studies have investigated survival disparity among RCC patients in an equal-access health care delivery system. This study aimed to examine racial differences in survival among clear cell RCC patients in the Department of Defense's (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), which provides equal access to care to all persons.

METHODS

The study used the DoD's Automated Central Tumor Registry to identify 2056 White patients and 370 Black patients diagnosed with clear cell RCC between 1988 and 2004. The subjects were followed through 2007 with a median follow-up time of 4.8 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared and a Cox model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) associated with survival by race.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 1,027 White and 158 Black patients died. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that Black patients had more favorable overall survival than did White patients (log rank p = 0.031). After adjustment for demographic, tumor, and treatment variables, the Cox model showed no statistically significant racial difference overall (adjusted HR 1.07, 95 % CI 0.90-1.28) or stratified by age, sex or tumor stage. However, among patients who did not undergo surgery, Black patients had poorer survival than White patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of racial difference in survival among RCC patients in the MHS may be related to equal access to health care. Improved access could reduce the survival disparity among RCC patients in the general population.

Racial disparity in renal cell carcinoma patient survival according to demographic and clinical characteristics

BACKGROUND

Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who are black tend to have poorer prognosis than similar patients who are white. This study examined whether the racial disparity in RCC patient survival varies by demographic and clinical characteristics.

METHODS

Nearly 40,000 patients (4359 black and 34,991 white) diagnosed with invasive RCC from 1992 to 2007 were identified from 12 registries in the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, covering approximately 14% of the US population. Relative survival rates through 2008 were computed using the actuarial method.

RESULTS

Proportionally more blacks than whites were diagnosed with RCC under age 50 and with localized cancer. Overall, the 5-year relative survival rates were 72.6% (95% confidence interval 72.0%-73.2%) for white and 68.0% (66.2%-69.8%) for black patients. Survival was higher among women than men and among younger than older patients. Survival decreased with advancing tumor stage and, within each stage, decreased with increasing tumor size. Patients with clear cell RCC, a more common form among whites, had poorer prognosis than patients with papillary or chromophobe subtypes, which are more common among blacks. Survival for patients who received no surgical treatment (10.5% of white patients and 14.5% of black patients) was substantially lower than for patients treated with nephrectomy, with similar survival among whites and blacks. In all other demographic and clinical subgroups of patients, whites consistently had a survival advantage over blacks.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RCC who are white consistently have a survival advantage over those RCC patients who are black, regardless of age, sex, tumor stage or size, histological subtype, or surgical treatment.

Differences in vitamin D status may account for unexplained disparities in cancer survival rates between African and white Americans

Considerable disparities in cancer survival rates exist between African Americans (AAs) and white Americans (WAs). Various factors such as differences in socioeconomic status (SES), cancer stage at time of diagnosis, and treatment—which this analysis considers primary explanatory factors—have accounted for many of these differences. An additional factor not usually considered is vitamin D. Previous studies have inversely correlated higher solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations with incidence and/or mortality rates for about 20 types of cancer and improved survival rates for eight types of cancer. Because of darker skin pigmentation, AAs have 40% lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations than WAs. This study reviews the literature on disparities in cancer survival between AAs and WAs. The journal literature indicates that there are disparities for 13 types of cancer after consideration of SES, stage at diagnosis and treatment: bladder, breast, colon, endometrial, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, testicular, and vaginal cancer; Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma. Solar UVB doses and/or serum 25(OH)D concentrations have been reported inversely correlated with incidence and/or mortality rates for all of these cancers. This finding suggests that future studies should consider serum 25(OH)D concentrations in addressing cancer survival disparities through both measurements of serum 25(OH)D concentrations and increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations of those diagnosed with cancer, leading to improved survival rates and reduced disparities.

Determinants of medicare all-cause costs among elderly patients with renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common genitourinary cancer and the most common primary renal neoplasm. Estimates of the economic burden of RCC in the United States range from approximately $400 million (in year 2000 dollars) to $4.4 billion (in year 2005 dollars). Actual costs associated with RCC, particularly for elderly Medicare patients who account for 46% of U.S. patients hospitalized for RCC, are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate all-cause health care costs associated with RCC using the combined Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database.

METHODS

The sample was limited to non-HMO patients aged 65 years or older who were diagnosed with a first primary RCC (SEER site recode 59, kidney and renal pelvis) between 1995 and 2002. Our final sample included 4,938 patients with RCC and 9,876 non-HMO noncancer comparison group cases without chronic renal disease drawn from the SEER 5% Medicare sample and matched by a propensity score calculated from age, gender, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities. Costs were defined as payments made by Medicare for all-cause medical treatments including inpatient stays, emergency room visits, outpatient procedures, office visits, home health visits, durable medical equipment, and hospice care, but excluding out-patient prescription drugs. Using the method of Bang and Tsiatis (2000), we estimated cumulative costs at 1 and 5 years by estimating average costs for each patient in each month up to 60 months following diagnosis. Total costs were weighted sums of monthly costs, where weights were the inverse probability that the patient was not censored, and inverse probabilities were estimated by Kaplan-Meier estimates of time to censoring. Using the method of Lin (2000), we performed multivariate analyses of costs by fitting each of the 60 monthly costs to linear models that controlled for demographic characteristics and comorbidities. Marginal effects of covariates on 1- and 5-year costs were obtained by summing the coefficients for months 1 through 12 and months 1 through 60, respectively. Confidence intervals were obtained by bootstrapping.

RESULTS

Patients with RCC and matched comparison group cases had similar demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and chronic conditions. At the start of the fifth year post-diagnosis, there were 1,208 Medicare RCC cases of the original 4,938 (20.8%). Mean costs per patient per month (PPPM) in the first year were $3,673 for patients with RCC and $793 for comparison group patients. PPPM costs were higher for RCC patients with more advanced stage (i.e., regional or distant) disease. Average cumulative total costs for RCC patients were $33,605 per patient in the first year following diagnosis and $59,397 per patient in the first 5 years following diagnosis. Several patient-specific factors were associated with 1- and 5-year costs in multivariate analyses, including age, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities. Among RCC patients, treatment with surgery and radiation was associated with higher costs per patient than treatment with surgery alone at 1 year ($24,556, 95% CI = $16,673-$32,940) and 5 years ($30,540, 95% CI = $17,853-$43,648). RCC patients who received chemotherapy as part of their treatment regimen also had significantly higher costs per patient than those who received surgery alone at 1 year ($15,144, 95% CI = $ 9,979-$20,344) and 5 years ($13,440, 95% CI = $1,257-$27,572).

CONCLUSIONS

Newly diagnosed RCC is associated with a significant economic burden, which is largely determined by several patient characteristics, disease stage, and treatment choice.

Renal cancer paradox: higher incidence but not higher mortality among African-Americans

To compare temporal trends in the incidence and mortality of renal cell cancer among blacks and whites for clues to etiologic differences. We examined trends in age-adjusted and age-specific Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results incidence and US mortality rates for renal cancer for 1973 through 2007, as well as nephrectomy rates from surgery codes for kidney cancer for 2000 through 2007. For nearly four decades, incidence rates for renal cell cancer have been rising more rapidly among blacks than whites, leading to a shift in excess from among whites to among blacks, almost entirely accounted for by an excess of localized disease. The incidence patterns are puzzling, as localized renal cell cancer is primarily detected incidentally by imaging, to which blacks have historically had less access. In contrast to the incidence patterns, there has been an unexpected convergence of renal cancer mortality rates, which have been virtually identical among blacks and whites since the early 1990 s. Nephrectomy rates, regardless of stage, were lower among blacks than among whites, despite almost identical cause-specific survival rates in both races. The identical mortality patterns, combined with higher and more rapidly increasing incidence and lower rates of nephrectomies among blacks, suggest that renal cell cancer may tend to be a less aggressive tumor in blacks. This hypothesis is supported by the favorable stage distribution among blacks and their higher survival for distant and unstaged cancer. Further research into the enigmatic descriptive epidemiology and the biology and natural history of renal cell cancer may shed light on the etiology of this malignancy and its more frequent occurrence among black Americans.

Renal cell cancer among African Americans: an epidemiologic review

Incidence rates for renal cell cancer, which accounts for 85% of kidney cancers, have been rising more rapidly among blacks than whites, almost entirely accounted for by an excess of localized disease. This excess dates back to the 1970s, despite less access among blacks to imaging procedures in the past. In contrast, mortality rates for this cancer have been virtually identical among blacks and whites since the early 1990s, despite the fact that nephrectomy rates, regardless of stage, are lower among blacks than among whites. These observations suggest that renal cell cancer may be a less aggressive tumor in blacks. We have reviewed the epidemiology of renal cell cancer, with emphasis on factors which may potentially play a role in the observed differences in incidence and mortality patterns of renal cell cancer among blacks and whites. To date, the factors most consistently, albeit modestly, associated with increased renal cell cancer risk in epidemiologic studies among whites--obesity, hypertension, cigarette smoking--likely account for less than half of these cancers, and there is virtually no epidemiologic evidence in the literature pertaining to their association with renal cell cancer among blacks. There is a long overdue need for detailed etiologic cohort and case-control studies of renal cell cancer among blacks, as they now represent the population at highest risk in the United States. In particular, investigation of the influence on renal cell cancer development of hypertension and chronic kidney disease, both of which occur substantially more frequently among blacks, is warranted, as well as investigations into the biology and natural history of this cancer among blacks.

Rate of renal cell carcinoma subtypes in different races

PURPOSE

We sought to identify racial differences among histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between black and non-black patients in an equal-access health care system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We established a multi-institutional, prospective database of patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy between January 1, 2000 and Sept 31, 2009. For the purposes of this study, data captured included age at diagnosis, race, tumor size, presence of lymphovascular invasion, presence of capsular invasion, margin status, and tumor histology.

RESULTS

204 kidney tumors were identified (Table-1). Of these, 117 (57.4%) were in black patients and 87 (42.6%) were in non-black patients. Age at surgery ranged from 37 to 87 with a median of 62. Tumor size ranged from 1.0 to 22.0 cm with a median of 5.0 cm. Overall, tumors were composed of clear cell RCC in 97 cases (47.5%), papillary RCC in 65 cases (31.9%), chromophobe RCC in 13 cases (6.4%), collecting duct/medullary RCC in 2 cases (1.0%), RCC with multiple histological subtypes in 8 cases (3.9%), malignant tumors of other origin in 6 cases (2.9%), and benign histology in 13 cases (6.4%). Among black patients, papillary RCC was seen in 56 cases (47.9%), compared to 9 cases (10.3%) among non-black patients (p < 0.001) (Table-2). Clear cell RCC was present in 38 (32.5%) of black patients and in 59 (67.8%) of non-blacks (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, papillary RCC had a much higher occurrence among black patients compared to non-black patients. This is the first study to document such a great racial disparity among RCC subtypes.

Characterizing changes in kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence from 1998 to 2006 in the United States

In this study, we characterize the changes in kidney and renal pelvis cancer (RCC) from 1998 to 2006 in the United States. The goal is to examine variations in stage and treatments. In addition, we explore changes in risk factors that have occurred over the same period. Data on over 20,000 patients diagnosed with RCC in National Cancer Data Base were used for the study. We investigated the changes in stage and treatment rates based on race, gender and age at diagnosis from 1998 to 2006. Changes in smoking, obesity and hypertension rates over the period were examined for comparison. The increase in RCC incidence rates from 1998 to 2006 was almost entirely a result of increases in stage I. Increases for blacks were proportionally higher than whites. Obesity and hypertension increased over the period but smoking declined. In terms of treatment, there was an increase in surgery cases primarily for stage I. There were no significant differences in trends based on gender, although rates in men were 65% greater than in women. The mean age at diagnosis was stable for stages I-IV. There are increased incidences of renal tumors, particularly stage I renal cancer among blacks and whites from 1998 to 2006. Patients were more likely to undergo surgical therapy for these tumors.