Association Between Local Atherosclerosis and Renal Cell Carcinomas

Abstract

Objective: Atherosclerosis induce changes in reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress by hypoxia leading to oxidative DNA damage and therefore it could be expected that the cancer risk in patients with atherosclerotic diseases is increased. Materials and Methods: The present study therefore aimed to morphometrically compare atherosclerotic changes (e.g., intima-to-media ratio [IMR]) in renal cell cancer (n = 514) and tumor-negative renal specimens (n = 70). Results: Renal cell cancer specimens, in contrast to tumor-negative renal specimens, had more advanced atherosclerotic lesions, which moreover in immediately peritumorous (near-field) arteries were more strongly developed than in somewhat more distant (far-field) arteries. IMR > 1 was significantly associated with renal cell carcinoma and the odds ratio of having renal cell cancer was significantly higher for patients with an IMR > 1. Conclusion: Local atherosclerosis was more pronounced in tumor-positive than in tumor-negative renal specimens with significant association between IMR > 1 and renal cancer. This finding encourages the hypothesis of atherosclerosis causing oxidative stress as a potential risk factor for the development of renal cell cancer.

Notes

^a Significant to tumor-negative specimens, P ≤ 0.005.

^a Numerator odds in the odds ratio.

^b Adjusted for sex and age.