Kidney Cancer and Asbestos Exposure
Kidney cancer, one of the top 10 most common cancers for both men and women, begins as one or more tumors in a patient's kidney or renal pelvis. Genetic mutations can prompt kidney cancer to spread to other parts of the body, but many cases are diagnosed before the tumors metastasize. Estimates suggest that more than 60,000 Americans may be diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2011.
There is no single definitive cause of kidney cancer, but several risk factors have been identified. Potential risk factors for kidney cancer include smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. Additionally, some researchers believe that asbestos exposure may also increase a person's likelihood of developing kidney cancer because asbestos is a proven carcinogen and is known to cause mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer. Asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer.
Laboratory studies have offered contradicting results regarding the role of asbestos in kidney cancer. Some studies indicate that humans and test animals can harbor asbestos bodies in their kidneys, potentially increasing their risk for kidney cancer, but other studies have not found an elevated incidence of kidney cancer in asbestos-exposed subjects. Until conclusive evidence is provided, asbestos exposure is currently regarded as a minor risk factor.
If you are concerned about your risk of developing asbestos-related kidney cancer or other diseases and cancers linked to asbestos exposure, request a free mesothelioma informational packet. Our comprehensive packet provides detailed information about the risk factors for developing an asbestos-related illness and provides lists of doctors, cancer centers and treatment options. Fill out the form to have a comprehensive packet delivered overnight, compliments of the Mesothelioma Center.
Studies of Asbestos Exposure and its Effects on Kidneys
Once ingested, asbestos can travel through the gastrointestinal tract, and some asbestos bodies can travel as far as the kidneys. One study from the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey found that 14 of 37 asbestos-exposed patients had one or more asbestos bodies in their kidney tissue. The study revealed that the patients with the highest levels of asbestos bodies in their non-pulmonary organs also had the highest number of asbestos bodies in their lungs. One subject whose pulmonary tissue was filled with too many asbestos bodies to count was found to have 82 asbestos bodies in his kidney – the highest number of all the test subjects.
The Somerset study gave two explanations for the presence of iron-coated asbestos bodies in non-pulmonary organs such as the kidneys. In some cases, asbestos fibers may have first become lodged in the lung, where they became asbestos bodies before migrating to other parts of the body. In other cases, the fibers may have drifted through the body before becoming lodged in the organs where they were eventually found.
Although human and animal studies clearly show that asbestos fibers can reach the kidneys, it is not yet clear if the fibers actually trigger cancerous changes. DNA mutations are responsible for causing healthy cells to become cancerous; these mutations can be caused by exposure to substances such as tobacco smoke or asbestos. When the kidney filters the body's blood, it absorbs these chemicals, but if concentrations become large enough, they can alter DNA enough to cause the cancerous mutations.
The Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of California Berkeley found that two of three previously conducted studies "gave strong direct evidence" for elevated kidney cancer mortality in asbestos-exposed workers. Conversely, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that heavy levels of asbestos exposure may slightly increase a person's risk for kidney cancer, but that a significant increase in risk is highly unlikely.
Another 2011 study found that while exposure to glass fibers and mineral wool fibers may increase a person's risk for renal cell carcinoma, researchers did not observe any increased risk from asbestos exposure.
To date, no conclusive evidence exists to classify or disqualify asbestos as a definite cause of human kidney cancer. If you'd like to find out about upcoming studies on the effects of asbestos exposure on the kidneys, as well as other studies on the health risks of exposure, fill out the Fast Answer form and one of our knowledgeable Patient Advocates will contact you with answers to many of your questions about asbestos studies, trials and treatment for asbestos-related diseases.
-
05/18/2012 -
The Queen of Disco Donna Summer died on Thursday in her Naples, Florida, home after a quiet battle with lung cancer.
She was 63.
The five-time G ..
-
05/17/2012 -
Thoracic surgeon Robert Cameron, M.D., used his second annual Symposium for Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma last week in Los ..
-
05/17/2012 -
Researchers in Singapore have uncovered new technology for studying cancer stem cells that could spark quicker development of a more effective therapy ..
© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Friday, April 27th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
