Case-Control Study of Renal Cell Cancer Among Caucasions and African Americans in the United States

Incidence rates of renal cell cancer have increased rapidly in the U.S. and other countries. In particular, rates among African Americans have risen more sharply than any other cancer site. We propose to conduct a population-based case-control study of renal cell cancer in areas of the U.S. with a high proportion of African American residents. We will include two study centers and one data coordinating center and will recruit study participants over a period of four years. We plan to conduct in-person interviews with 2,100 cases (1,400 whites and 700 blacks) and 2,800 controls (1,400 each of whites and blacks) to elicit information on demographic background and history of exposures. A 40 ml blood sample will be collected from living cases and controls to measure certain environmental exposures and for genetic analyses. Two buccal cell samples will be collected from living cases and controls for genetic analyses. Tumor tissue blocks will be collected from as many cases as possible for assays of tumor mutations. Diagnostic slides will be collected for standardized reclassification of tumors into clear cell, papillary, and other histologic subtypes. Medical records for all cases will be reviewed for health insurance coverage, concomitant conditions, presenting symptoms, tumor stage, size and grade, and methods leading to diagnosis of renal cell cancer.