Journal Updates

Poor kidney function linked to higher cancer risk

A new study published March 14, 2019 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has uncovered a modestly higher cancer risk in individuals with mild to severe chronic kidney disease, driven primarily by skin (non-melanoma) and urogenital cancers. Although the study does not conclusively establish a causal link between kidney dysfunction and cancer but it might be used to increase awareness among healthcare professional and patients, motivate lifestyle modifications if other cancer risk factors or family history are present, and justify more vigilant monitoring.