Chronic kidney disease and cancer

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by kidney abnormalities lasting at least three months, indicated by decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or/and increased albuminuria. While higher cancer risk in patients with advanced-stage CKD is well documented, studies on cancer risk in early-stage CKD, characterized by increased albuminuria, are limited and inconsistent.

A higher level of albuminuria is associated with a higher cancer risk, independent of kidney function. In this thesis we do not find strong evidence on the causality linking albuminuria to cancer in this thesis. However, the findings do suggest that CKD markers are valuable as response indicators reflecting pathological profiles that can be causally related to cancer development.