Rheumatoid arthritis patients at increased risk of kidney cancer, reports research

A new study published in the journal of Rheumatology showed that kidney cancer is more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in people without the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes significant comorbidities and mortality by affecting several organ systems, like the respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems, as well as by being linked to certain psychiatric issues. Major risk factors for morbidity and death include chronic organ deterioration and late consequences including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

While some research has shown that the frequency of malignant illnesses in RA patients is comparable to that of the general population, other publications have shown that RA patients have a decreased risk of developing malignant diseases. The majority of research has consistently shown that people with RA had a higher risk of lymphoma and a lower incidence of colorectal cancer.

The association between RA and cancer has seldom ever been shown in Asian nations due to the very low frequency of RA in these populations. Uncertainty surrounds the pathogenetic processes of the relationship between cancer and RA. Dagyeong Lee and colleagues wanted to look at the possible links between RA and a higher risk of urological malignancies, particularly those of the kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicles, as well as the impact of RA serological status on this risk.

The Korean National Health Insurance System database (2010–2020) provided the data for this retrospective cohort analysis, which included RA patients and a 1:5 matched non-RA group. Serological status was used to categorize RA patients. After controlling for possible confounders, Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the relationship between newly diagnosed urological cancer and RA.

The study found the RA patients to have an increased risk of kidney cancer when compared with the non-RA population. The risk of kidney cancer was even higher in women with RA. However, the risk of bladder, prostate and testicular cancers was not associated with RA.

No significant difference in urological cancer risk was found according to serological status. When compared to the general population, RA patients are more likely to develop kidney cancer. Overall, kidney cancer risk was 34% higher in RA patients, and the risk was higher in women. Yet, no such correlation was discovered for testicular, bladder, or prostate cancers which highlights the need of cancer preventive measures in RA.

Source:

Lee, D., Jeon, K. H., Jung, J., Han, K., Cho, M. H., Cho, I. Y., & Shin, D. W. (2025). Urological cancer risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to matched controls: A nationwide cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf103