Reproductive and hormonal factors and risk of renal cell carcinoma among women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Joanna L. Clasen, Rita Mabunda, Alicia K. Heath, Rudolf Kaaks, Verena Katzke, Matthias B. Schulze, Anna Birukov, Giovanna Tagliabue, Paolo Chiodini, Rosario Tumino, Lorenzo Milani, Tonje Braaten, Inger Gram, Marko Lukic, Leila Luján-Barroso, Miguel Rodriguez-Barranco, María Dolores Chirlaque, Eva Ardanaz, Pilar Amiano, Jonas ManjerLinnea Huss, Börje Ljungberg, Ruth Travis, Karl Smith-Byrne, Marc Gunter, Matthias Johansson, Sabina Rinaldi, Elisabete Weiderpass, Elio Riboli, Amanda J. Cross, David C. Muller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is twice as common among men compared with women, and hormonal factors have been suggested to partially explain this difference. There is currently little evidence on the roles of reproductive and hormonal risk factors in RCC aetiology. Materials & Methods: We investigated associations of age at menarche and age at menopause, pregnancy-related factors, hysterectomy and ovariectomy and exogenous hormone use with RCC risk among 298,042 women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Results: During 15 years of follow-up, 438 RCC cases were identified. Parous women had higher rates of RCC compared with nulliparous women (HR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.18, 2.46), and women who were older at age of first pregnancy had lower rates of RCC (30 years + vs. <20 years HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34, 0.82). Additionally, we identified a positive association for hysterectomy (HR = 1.43 95% CI 1.09, 1.86) and bilateral ovariectomy (HR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.13, 2.47), but not unilateral ovariectomy (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.61, 1.62) with RCC risk. No clear associations were found for age at menarche, age at menopause or exogenous hormone use. Conclusion: Our results suggest that parity and reproductive organ surgeries may play a role in RCC aetiology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15588-15600
Number of pages13
JournalCancer Medicine
Volume12
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Jul

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Cancer and Oncology

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