Association Between Renal Cell Carcinoma and Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Epigenetic Underpinning?

Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2018 Dec;16(6):e1117-e1122. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2018.06.008. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Abstract

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and certain myeloid malignancies are both characterized by widespread aberrant DNA hypermethylation. After clinical observations of patients with a personal history of both malignancies, we sought to explore a potential association, and to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients.

Patients and methods: Mayo Clinic's 'Advanced Cohort Explorer' database was used to identify patients with a history of both malignancies. Clinical features and long-term outcome were abstracted. Prevalence of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) in patients ≥ 65 years with a personal history of nephrectomy for RCC was then compared with the prevalence of MDSs in the Dusseldorf MDS registry and the general patient population at Mayo Clinic, using 1-sample test of proportions.

Results: A total of 59 patients with a diagnosis of both RCC and myeloid malignancy were identified. The myeloid malignancies included 38 MDSs, 12 acute myelogenous leukemia, and 9 myeloproliferative neoplasms. The cohort was characterized by marked male predominance (4.4:1). The median age at RCC diagnosis was 64 years (range, 37-87 years), and for myeloid malignancy was 75 years (range, 44-90 years). Prevalence of MDS in patients > 65 years with a personal history of nephrectomy for RCC was ≈ 8.4 times that of the age-concordant general population based on the Dusseldorf registry (28/6490 or 395/100,000 vs. ≈ 47/100,000; P < .001), and 3.07 times that of the age-concordant patient population at Mayo Clinic (28/6490 or 395/100,000 vs. 128.4/100,000; P < .001).

Conclusions: We observed a strong association between RCC and MDS. Patients with a history of RCC appear to have a substantially increased risk of developing MDS compared with the general population.

Keywords: Kidney cancer; MDS; Myelodysplasia; RCC; Risk.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA Methylation
  • Disease Progression
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / epidemiology
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Nephrectomy
  • Prevalence
  • Registries / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Factors