A case–control study of occupation/industry and renal cell carcinoma risk

Authors

Sara Karami, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow
Joanne S. Colt, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer InstituteFollow
Kendra Schwartz, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Faith G. Davis, University of IllinoisFollow
Julie J. Ruterbusch, Wayne State University, Karmanos Cancer InstituteFollow
Stella S. Munuo, Formerly of Information Management Service IncFollow
Sholom Wacholder, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow
Patricia A. Stewart, Stewart Exposure Assessments, LLCFollow
Barry I. Graubard, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow
Nathanial Rothman, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow
Wong-Ho Chow, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow
Mark P. Purdue, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHSFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Abstract

Background

The role of occupation in the etiology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is unclear. Here, we investigated associations between employment in specific occupations and industries and RCC, and its most common histologic subtype, clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

Methods

Between 2002 and 2007, a population-based case–control study of Caucasians and African Americans (1,217 cases; 1,235 controls) was conducted within the Detroit and Chicago metropolitan areas to investigate risk factors for RCC. As part of this study, occupational histories were ascertained through in-person interviews. We computed odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating occupation and industry to RCC risk using adjusted unconditional logistic regression models.

Results

Employment in the agricultural crop production industry for five years or more was associated with RCC (OR = 3.3 [95% CI = 1.0-11.5]) and ccRCC in particular (OR = 6.3 [95% CI = 1.7-23.3], P for trend with duration of employment = 0.0050). Similarly, RCC risk was elevated for employment of five years or longer in non-managerial agricultural and related occupations (OR_RCC = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.0-4.5]; OR_ccRCC = 3.1 [95% CI = 1.4-6.8]). Employment in the dry-cleaning industry was also associated with elevated risk (OR_RCC = 2.0 [95% CI = 0.9-4.4], P for trend = 0.093; OR_ccRCC = 3.0 [95% CI = 1.2-7.4], P for trend = 0.031). Suggestive elevated associations were observed for police/public safety workers, health care workers and technicians, and employment in the electronics, auto repair, and cleaning/janitorial services industries; protective associations were suggested for many white-collar jobs including computer science and administrative occupations as well employment in the business, legislative, and education industries.

Conclusions

Our findings provide support for an elevated risk of RCC in the agricultural and dry-cleaning industries and suggest that these associations may be stronger for the ccRCC subtype. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Disciplines

Environmental Public Health | Oncology

Recommended Citation

Karami et al.: A case–control study of occupation/ industry and renal cell carcinoma risk. BMC Cancer 2012 12:344.