Background
Use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is known to affect renal function, however their association with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is unclear. Given the widespread use of these medications, clarification of the relationship with RCCs is needed.
Aim
To investigate the association between NSAIDs (including aspirin) use and risk of renal cell carcinoma.
Method
The CONFIRM study used a case-control design to investigate risk factors for RCC. Incident cases were recruited via population-based cancer registries in two Australian states; controls were siblings or partners of cases. Unconditional logistic regression was used to examine the association adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking and alcohol use.
Results
After excluding missing data, 1,071 cases and 754 controls were included in the final analysis. Regular non-aspirin NSAID use (at least 5 times per month for >= 6 months) was associated with an increased odds of RCC (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.04-1.70); this association persisted after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking and alcohol use (OR 1.30, 95%CI 1.01 – 1.68). The adjusted OR for regular use of full-strength aspirin was 1.34 (95% CI 0.81-2.22) and that for regular use of aspirin and/or other NSAIDs was 1.20 (95% CI 0.94-1.52). A conditional logistic regression analysis was undertaken, analysing sets with sibling controls and partner controls separately. The results were consistent, although with wider confidence intervals.
Conclusion
This large population-based study suggests that regular use of NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma.