Renal cell carcinoma incidence and mortality in California: a population-based study of sociodemographic patterns and...

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and mortality trends in California that reflect contemporary patterns of incidental diagnoses and new treatment advances have not been published, and RCC burden across sociodemographic groups remains unclear. We sought to investigate the incidence and mortality rates of first RCC in individuals aged 20 and older in California from 1988 through 2019, including overall trends and by sociodemographic factors.

Data were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. We calculated age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates and rate ratios (where relevant) of RCC overall and by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES). Joinpoint regression was used to estimate annual percent rate changes in incidence and mortality rates across time periods.

From 1988 through 2019, we identified 90,659 incident RCC cases, of which 62.9% were localized at diagnosis, and 37,069 RCC-related deaths. Incidence was higher in males than females, among American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black individuals, and in lower-nSES areas. Incidence rose over time, with steeper increases among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black populations and in the lowest nSES groups. Although mortality declined overall, disparities persisted, with Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black individuals experiencing higher mortality than non-Hispanic White individuals.

RCC remains a significant public health concern in California, with disparities by race, ethnicity, and nSES widening over time. This underscores the relevance of RCC as a health equity issue and the need for targeted public health action and equity-focused research.

This study utilized publicly accessible data from infrastructure supported by the California Department of Public Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.