The potential association between influenza vaccination and lower incidence of renal cell carcinoma

Bernardo Marques da Silva; Kaitlin J Mayne; Izabela Zakrocka

doi:10.1093/ckj/sfad180

The potential association between influenza vaccination and lower incidence of renal cell carcinoma

Clin Kidney J. 2023 Jul 19;16(11):1714-1717. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfad180. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Bernardo Marques da Silva¹, Kaitlin J Mayne², Izabela Zakrocka³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal.
² Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK & School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
³ Department of Nephrology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.

Abstract

It is well-established that kidney cancer or renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs more commonly in chronic kidney disease (CKD) than in the general population, although the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Beyond hereditary RCC syndromes; smoking, obesity and hypertension are widely known risk factors for RCC, irrespective of CKD. Kidney-specific factors such as episodes of acute kidney injury, nephrolithiasis and cyst formation have also been shown to be associated with RCC development. One potential and less explored factor is the role of viruses in the development of kidney cancer. In this issue of Clinical Kidney Journal, Lin et al. raise the interesting hypothesis that influenza vaccination may be associated with lower incidence of RCC in adults with CKD. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying this interesting observation in the context of immune dysregulation in CKD.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; influenza; kidney cancer; renal cell carcinoma; vaccination.

Publication types

Editorial