Global patterns and trends in kidney cancer incidence and mortality

This study provides an update on global patterns and trends in kidney cancer incidence and mortality. We used the most recent GLOBOCAN estimates, based on the best available data sources, including population-based cancer registries (PBCRs), to compare incidence and mortality in 185 countries or territories in 2022 and to assess time trends based on recorded PBCR and vital statistics data in 71 countries. Incidence age-standardised rates (ASRs) varied 10-fold across UN regions and 20-fold at the country level in 2022. Kidney cancer ASRs were consistently higher in males than females and ranged from 1.6 per 100,000 in low Human Development Index (HDI) countries to 12.6 in very high HDI countries among men and from 1.1 to 5.9 among women. The highest ASRs in males were in Belarus (22.9), Uruguay (20.5), and Latvia (19.2), and in females in Latvia (9.5), Uruguay (8.7), USA (8.7). While the patterns were similar for mortality, variations were less pronounced. The mortality-to-incidence ratio was lowest in Oceania (0.2) and highest in Africa (0.7). Over the past 15 years, incidence ASRs have tended to increase or stabilise in most European countries, Northern America and Oceania, but increased in Asia and Latin America. Mortality ASRs decreased in most countries, but increased in Portugal, Romania, Moldova, the Philippines, Malaysia and in 9 of 14 countries in Latin America. Regional variations in incidence call for a greater focus on risk factors amenable to prevention, coupled with an assessment of the role of diagnostics. The varied mortality patterns indicate present treatment inequalities.