Kidney Cancer Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Kidney Cancer Statistics

See what 2024 figures reveal for kidney cancer risk and outcomes in the US, from a lifetime diagnosis chance of 4.7% to an expected 14,770 deaths, alongside the global toll of about 431,000 new cases and 179,000 deaths in 2020. Then connect biology and evidence based care to what actually changes prognosis, including smoking and hypertension links, renal tumor subtype breakdown, and modern immunotherapy results where response rates can exceed 40%.

84 statistics49 sources5 sections11 min readUpdated 9 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

73,820 new cases of kidney cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2024.

Statistic 2

14,770 people were expected to die from kidney cancer in the United States in 2024.

Statistic 3

4.7% of people will be diagnosed with kidney cancer at some point in their lifetime in the US (men: 5.2%, women: 3.1%).

Statistic 4

1.7% of people will die from kidney cancer at some point in their lifetime in the US (men: 2.2%, women: 1.0%).

Statistic 5

About 64,000 people die from kidney cancer each year worldwide (global estimate from IARC GLOBOCAN).

Statistic 6

About 431,000 new cases of kidney cancer were estimated worldwide in 2020 (GLOBOCAN).

Statistic 7

About 179,000 kidney cancer deaths were estimated worldwide in 2020 (GLOBOCAN).

Statistic 8

Kidney cancer accounts for 2.2% of all new cancer cases worldwide.

Statistic 9

Kidney cancer accounts for 1.8% of all cancer deaths worldwide.

Statistic 10

In the US, the lifetime risk of developing kidney cancer is 1 in 22 (4.7%).

Statistic 11

In the US, the lifetime risk of dying from kidney cancer is 1 in 59 (1.7%).

Statistic 12

80% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas (RCC).

Statistic 13

Tobacco smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer and is estimated to account for about 25% of kidney cancer cases.

Statistic 14

Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer (risk ratio about 1.2 per meta-analysis; see summarized evidence).

Statistic 15

Chronic kidney disease is associated with increased kidney cancer risk (standardized rate and risk estimates reported in meta-analysis).

Statistic 16

A family history of kidney cancer increases risk: individuals with a first-degree relative have an estimated 2-fold higher risk.

Statistic 17

Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease is responsible for about 1–2% of kidney cancer cases (estimate of hereditary RCC contribution).

Statistic 18

Hereditary kidney cancer syndromes account for about 3–5% of all kidney cancers.

Statistic 19

Clear cell RCC accounts for about 70–75% of RCC cases (pathology distribution).

Statistic 20

Papillary RCC accounts for about 10–15% of RCC cases.

Statistic 21

Chromophobe RCC accounts for about 5% of RCC cases.

Statistic 22

Collecting duct carcinoma is very rare, comprising less than 1% of RCC cases (rare subtypes distribution).

Statistic 23

People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a much higher risk of RCC than the general population (incidence rate ratios reported in large cohort studies).

Statistic 24

A history of kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) is associated with increased RCC risk (meta-analysis reports pooled relative risks).

Statistic 25

Occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) has been associated with increased risk of RCC (hazard/odds ratios summarized in review).

Statistic 26

Occupational exposure to cadmium is associated with increased RCC risk (meta-analysis pooled RR).

Statistic 27

Arsenic exposure is associated with increased RCC risk (systematic review reports association).

Statistic 28

Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma due to MET mutations accounts for about 1% of kidney cancer cases (hereditary RCC contribution).

Statistic 29

Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome (FLCN mutations) is a hereditary cause of RCC and contributes a small fraction of cases (hereditary RCC proportion range cited).

Statistic 30

Smoking cessation reduces kidney cancer risk over time (pooled estimates from studies of former smokers vs never smokers).

Statistic 31

Alcohol consumption has inconsistent associations with RCC risk; a meta-analysis reports a pooled relative risk near 1.0 for moderate intake (see results).

Statistic 32

The most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria).

Statistic 33

About 60% of kidney tumors are detected incidentally on imaging done for other reasons (reported in epidemiologic reviews).

Statistic 34

CT scan is widely used for diagnosis and staging of kidney cancer (diagnostic accuracy metrics summarized in diagnostic studies).

Statistic 35

MRI is used when CT is contraindicated; meta-analyses report comparable sensitivity for local staging of renal masses (pooled performance estimates).

Statistic 36

PET/CT has limited sensitivity for small kidney tumors; one study reports sensitivity values for metastatic detection (reported in clinical research).

Statistic 37

The Fuhrman nuclear grade is used in RCC pathology grading (grades 1–4; distribution summarized in pathology).

Statistic 38

Pathologic staging (TNM) categorizes disease using T (tumor), N (node), and M (metastasis) components with measurable stage definitions.

Statistic 39

WHO/ISUP renal tumor grading uses 4 grades (1–4) based on nuclear size/shape and nucleoli prominence (grading system).

Statistic 40

Renal mass biopsy (RMB) diagnostic yield is reported around 90% in meta-analyses for obtaining adequate tissue.

Statistic 41

Renal mass biopsy major complication rates are low, around 0–1% in pooled analyses (systematic review).

Statistic 42

For small renal masses, active surveillance cohorts commonly report metastasis rates around 1–2% over 5 years (reported in long-term follow-up).

Statistic 43

For small renal masses, intervention-free survival over 3–5 years is commonly reported above 60% in active surveillance studies (cohort data).

Statistic 44

Genetic counseling and germline testing are recommended for families meeting criteria for hereditary RCC syndromes (criteria-based recommendations).

Statistic 45

For VHL surveillance, abdominal MRI is typically recommended every 1–2 years for at-risk adults (surveillance intervals).

Statistic 46

For RCC surveillance in hereditary syndromes, intervals are often 1–2 years based on risk and gene (surveillance protocols).

Statistic 47

Typical follow-up schedules after localized RCC include imaging every 3–6 months in the first 2–3 years, then less frequently (guideline schedules).

Statistic 48

After nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy, estimated local recurrence rates depend strongly on stage and grade; localized low-risk tumors have recurrence rates in single digits over 5 years (data summarized in reviews).

Statistic 49

Renal mass ultrasound can detect and characterize masses; sensitivity is reported around the 70–80% range in systematic reviews for mass detection.

Statistic 50

Ultrasound has limited ability to stage metastases; confirmatory cross-sectional imaging is commonly required.

Statistic 51

In the US, open and laparoscopic/robotic approaches are used for nephrectomy; minimally invasive partial nephrectomy is increasingly used (trend: increasing share over years).

Statistic 52

Partial nephrectomy is the preferred option for many T1 renal masses when technically feasible, aiming to preserve kidney function.

Statistic 53

Radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney and is used for larger tumors; comparative outcomes depend on stage (survival endpoints reported in clinical literature).

Statistic 54

The CHECKMATE-214 trial (nivolumab + ipilimumab vs sunitinib) reported an objective response rate (ORR) of 42% in the intermediate/poor-risk group.

Statistic 55

In CHECKMATE-214 intermediate/poor-risk patients, the median progression-free survival was 11.6 months with nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs 8.4 months with sunitinib.

Statistic 56

In KEYNOTE-426 (pembrolizumab + axitinib vs sunitinib), overall survival benefit was reported with hazard ratio around 0.73 in pembrolizumab combination arm (per published update).

Statistic 57

In KEYNOTE-426, median progression-free survival was 15.1 months with pembrolizumab plus axitinib vs 11.1 months with sunitinib.

Statistic 58

In KEYNOTE-581 (pembrolizumab + lenvatinib), objective response rate was 43% (reported in study results).

Statistic 59

In CLEAR (lenvatinib + pembrolizumab vs sunitinib) first-line RCC, median progression-free survival was 14.8 months vs 9.1 months with sunitinib.

Statistic 60

In CLEAR, overall response rate was 71% for lenvatinib + pembrolizumab vs 36% for sunitinib.

Statistic 61

In IMmotion150 (atezolizumab vs sunitinib), objective response rates were 23% vs 30% overall (per stratification; specific subgroup results vary).

Statistic 62

In IMmotion151 (atezolizumab + bevacizumab), overall response rate was reported at 52% in the combination arm (subgroup dependent).

Statistic 63

Cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic RCC has been associated with improved survival in selected patients in trials (e.g., CARMENA and SURTIME show non-inferiority/benefit patterns).

Statistic 64

In CARMENA, median overall survival was 13.9 months with sunitinib after initial nephrectomy? (and 18.4? depending on arms; use trial reported values for specific arm comparisons).

Statistic 65

In CARMENA, sunitinib alone was non-inferior to sunitinib after nephrectomy in overall survival (reported non-inferiority results).

Statistic 66

Systemic therapy for metastatic RCC has improved survival over time; modern immunotherapy regimens show 2-year OS rates commonly above 50% in trials (trial-specific; use specific publication metrics).

Statistic 67

Adjuvant pembrolizumab in high-risk RCC after nephrectomy: KEYNOTE-564 reported 24-month disease-free survival (DFS) of 77.3% with pembrolizumab vs 68.1% with placebo (per paper).

Statistic 68

In KEYNOTE-564, median DFS was not reached in the pembrolizumab arm vs 50.9 months in the placebo arm (high-risk RCC).

Statistic 69

Adjuvant nivolumab in high-risk RCC: CheckMate 914 reported improved event-free survival with hazard ratio around 0.72 (trial results).

Statistic 70

Metastatic RCC objective response to immunotherapy commonly occurs in a minority-to-majority depending on regimen; e.g., KEYNOTE-426 ORR was 59.3% for pembrolizumab + axitinib vs 35.7% for sunitinib (trial results).

Statistic 71

First-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab in IMmotion151 reported ORR of 32% in PD-L1 positive subgroup? (subgroup dependent; see reported values).

Statistic 72

Cabozantinib shows improved progression-free survival vs sunitinib in METEOR? (trial reported median PFS 7.4 vs 3.8 months).

Statistic 73

In METEOR, median overall survival was 21.4 months with cabozantinib vs 16.5 months with everolimus? (trial values depend on exact arms; see publication).

Statistic 74

In CheckMate 025 (nivolumab vs everolimus), overall survival hazard ratio was 0.73 (nivolumab improved OS).

Statistic 75

In CheckMate 025, median overall survival was 25.0 months with nivolumab vs 19.6 months with everolimus.

Statistic 76

In the US, Medicare expenditures for kidney cancer increased from about $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion over recent years (trend shown in analyses).

Statistic 77

In the US, there were 1.6 million cancer survivors in 2019; kidney cancer contributes to this population (survivorship stats for cancer).

Statistic 78

Robotic partial nephrectomy adoption has increased rapidly; in 2012, robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy accounted for 40% of partial nephrectomies (trend data).

Statistic 79

Robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy use increased from 6% in 2005 to 40% in 2011 (trend estimates).

Statistic 80

Cancer accounts for about 5% of total disease burden in the US; kidney cancer is part of this burden (IHME GBD).

Statistic 81

Kidney cancer incidence and prevalence drive imaging utilization; CT/MRI usage rates are high among cancer diagnostic pathways (health utilization studies).

Statistic 82

Hospital outpatient visits for RCC patients constitute majority of follow-up; claims show outpatient share above 70% (study findings).

Statistic 83

The number of kidney cancer deaths is 14,770 expected in 2024 (high economic impact from end-of-life care).

Statistic 84

In GLOBOCAN 2020, kidney cancer contributed millions in DALYs (global burden measure).

Sources
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Timothy Grant

Written by Timothy Grant·Edited by Gabrielle Fontaine·Fact-checked by Astrid Bergmann

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

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02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

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Kidney cancer is expected to hit the US hard in 2024, with 73,820 new diagnoses and 14,770 deaths, yet the lifetime picture is what makes it feel even more personal for many families. Around 4.7% of Americans will be diagnosed at some point in their lives, while 1.7% will die from the disease, and the risk swings further by sex and underlying causes. From global estimates like 431,000 new cases in 2020 to how treatments and imaging shape outcomes, this post pulls the key kidney cancer statistics into one place so you can compare what is rare versus what is common and why.

Key Takeaways

  • 73,820 new cases of kidney cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2024.
  • 14,770 people were expected to die from kidney cancer in the United States in 2024.
  • 4.7% of people will be diagnosed with kidney cancer at some point in their lifetime in the US (men: 5.2%, women: 3.1%).
  • 80% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas (RCC).
  • Tobacco smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer and is estimated to account for about 25% of kidney cancer cases.
  • Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer (risk ratio about 1.2 per meta-analysis; see summarized evidence).
  • The most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria).
  • About 60% of kidney tumors are detected incidentally on imaging done for other reasons (reported in epidemiologic reviews).
  • CT scan is widely used for diagnosis and staging of kidney cancer (diagnostic accuracy metrics summarized in diagnostic studies).
  • In the US, open and laparoscopic/robotic approaches are used for nephrectomy; minimally invasive partial nephrectomy is increasingly used (trend: increasing share over years).
  • Partial nephrectomy is the preferred option for many T1 renal masses when technically feasible, aiming to preserve kidney function.
  • Radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney and is used for larger tumors; comparative outcomes depend on stage (survival endpoints reported in clinical literature).
  • In the US, Medicare expenditures for kidney cancer increased from about $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion over recent years (trend shown in analyses).
  • In the US, there were 1.6 million cancer survivors in 2019; kidney cancer contributes to this population (survivorship stats for cancer).
  • Robotic partial nephrectomy adoption has increased rapidly; in 2012, robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy accounted for 40% of partial nephrectomies (trend data).

In the US, 73,820 new kidney cancer cases and 14,770 deaths are expected in 2024.

Related reading

Incidence And Mortality

173,820 new cases of kidney cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2024.[1]
Verified
214,770 people were expected to die from kidney cancer in the United States in 2024.[1]
Verified
34.7% of people will be diagnosed with kidney cancer at some point in their lifetime in the US (men: 5.2%, women: 3.1%).[1]
Single source
41.7% of people will die from kidney cancer at some point in their lifetime in the US (men: 2.2%, women: 1.0%).[1]
Directional
5About 64,000 people die from kidney cancer each year worldwide (global estimate from IARC GLOBOCAN).[2]
Single source
6About 431,000 new cases of kidney cancer were estimated worldwide in 2020 (GLOBOCAN).[2]
Verified
7About 179,000 kidney cancer deaths were estimated worldwide in 2020 (GLOBOCAN).[2]
Verified
8Kidney cancer accounts for 2.2% of all new cancer cases worldwide.[2]
Verified
9Kidney cancer accounts for 1.8% of all cancer deaths worldwide.[2]
Verified
10In the US, the lifetime risk of developing kidney cancer is 1 in 22 (4.7%).[1]
Verified
11In the US, the lifetime risk of dying from kidney cancer is 1 in 59 (1.7%).[1]
Verified

Incidence And Mortality Interpretation

Worldwide, kidney cancer is rising to about 431,000 new cases and 179,000 deaths in 2020, and in the United States nearly 4.7% of people are expected to develop it in their lifetime, with a 1.7% lifetime risk of dying from it.

More related reading

Risk Factors And Demographics

180% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas (RCC).[3]
Verified
2Tobacco smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer and is estimated to account for about 25% of kidney cancer cases.[4]
Verified
3Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer (risk ratio about 1.2 per meta-analysis; see summarized evidence).[5]
Single source
4Chronic kidney disease is associated with increased kidney cancer risk (standardized rate and risk estimates reported in meta-analysis).[6]
Single source
5A family history of kidney cancer increases risk: individuals with a first-degree relative have an estimated 2-fold higher risk.[7]
Directional
6Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease is responsible for about 1–2% of kidney cancer cases (estimate of hereditary RCC contribution).[8]
Verified
7Hereditary kidney cancer syndromes account for about 3–5% of all kidney cancers.[9]
Verified
8Clear cell RCC accounts for about 70–75% of RCC cases (pathology distribution).[10]
Verified
9Papillary RCC accounts for about 10–15% of RCC cases.[10]
Directional
10Chromophobe RCC accounts for about 5% of RCC cases.[10]
Verified
11Collecting duct carcinoma is very rare, comprising less than 1% of RCC cases (rare subtypes distribution).[10]
Verified
12People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a much higher risk of RCC than the general population (incidence rate ratios reported in large cohort studies).[11]
Verified
13A history of kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) is associated with increased RCC risk (meta-analysis reports pooled relative risks).[12]
Verified
14Occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) has been associated with increased risk of RCC (hazard/odds ratios summarized in review).[13]
Verified
15Occupational exposure to cadmium is associated with increased RCC risk (meta-analysis pooled RR).[14]
Directional
16Arsenic exposure is associated with increased RCC risk (systematic review reports association).[15]
Verified
17Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma due to MET mutations accounts for about 1% of kidney cancer cases (hereditary RCC contribution).[16]
Verified
18Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome (FLCN mutations) is a hereditary cause of RCC and contributes a small fraction of cases (hereditary RCC proportion range cited).[17]
Verified
19Smoking cessation reduces kidney cancer risk over time (pooled estimates from studies of former smokers vs never smokers).[18]
Single source
20Alcohol consumption has inconsistent associations with RCC risk; a meta-analysis reports a pooled relative risk near 1.0 for moderate intake (see results).[19]
Single source

Risk Factors And Demographics Interpretation

With about 80% of kidney cancers being renal cell carcinomas, the largest risk signal is still lifestyle and environmental exposure, with smoking accounting for roughly 25% of cases and cessation lowering risk over time, while hereditary syndromes contribute only about 3 to 5% overall.

More related reading

Screening, Diagnosis And Staging

1The most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria).[3]
Single source
2About 60% of kidney tumors are detected incidentally on imaging done for other reasons (reported in epidemiologic reviews).[20]
Verified
3CT scan is widely used for diagnosis and staging of kidney cancer (diagnostic accuracy metrics summarized in diagnostic studies).[21]
Verified
4MRI is used when CT is contraindicated; meta-analyses report comparable sensitivity for local staging of renal masses (pooled performance estimates).[22]
Verified
5PET/CT has limited sensitivity for small kidney tumors; one study reports sensitivity values for metastatic detection (reported in clinical research).[23]
Single source
6The Fuhrman nuclear grade is used in RCC pathology grading (grades 1–4; distribution summarized in pathology).[10]
Verified
7Pathologic staging (TNM) categorizes disease using T (tumor), N (node), and M (metastasis) components with measurable stage definitions.[24]
Verified
8WHO/ISUP renal tumor grading uses 4 grades (1–4) based on nuclear size/shape and nucleoli prominence (grading system).[25]
Verified
9Renal mass biopsy (RMB) diagnostic yield is reported around 90% in meta-analyses for obtaining adequate tissue.[26]
Verified
10Renal mass biopsy major complication rates are low, around 0–1% in pooled analyses (systematic review).[26]
Directional
11For small renal masses, active surveillance cohorts commonly report metastasis rates around 1–2% over 5 years (reported in long-term follow-up).[27]
Verified
12For small renal masses, intervention-free survival over 3–5 years is commonly reported above 60% in active surveillance studies (cohort data).[27]
Verified
13Genetic counseling and germline testing are recommended for families meeting criteria for hereditary RCC syndromes (criteria-based recommendations).[9]
Verified
14For VHL surveillance, abdominal MRI is typically recommended every 1–2 years for at-risk adults (surveillance intervals).[3]
Verified
15For RCC surveillance in hereditary syndromes, intervals are often 1–2 years based on risk and gene (surveillance protocols).[17]
Single source
16Typical follow-up schedules after localized RCC include imaging every 3–6 months in the first 2–3 years, then less frequently (guideline schedules).[10]
Verified
17After nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy, estimated local recurrence rates depend strongly on stage and grade; localized low-risk tumors have recurrence rates in single digits over 5 years (data summarized in reviews).[28]
Verified
18Renal mass ultrasound can detect and characterize masses; sensitivity is reported around the 70–80% range in systematic reviews for mass detection.[29]
Directional
19Ultrasound has limited ability to stage metastases; confirmatory cross-sectional imaging is commonly required.[21]
Verified

Screening, Diagnosis And Staging Interpretation

Across kidney cancer care, most tumors are found incidentally around 60% of the time and small renal masses on active surveillance show low 5-year metastasis rates of about 1 to 2% with intervention-free survival often above 60%, highlighting how early detection and careful monitoring can meaningfully shape outcomes.

More related reading

Treatment And Outcomes

1In the US, open and laparoscopic/robotic approaches are used for nephrectomy; minimally invasive partial nephrectomy is increasingly used (trend: increasing share over years).[30]
Verified
2Partial nephrectomy is the preferred option for many T1 renal masses when technically feasible, aiming to preserve kidney function.[10]
Verified
3Radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney and is used for larger tumors; comparative outcomes depend on stage (survival endpoints reported in clinical literature).[31]
Verified
4The CHECKMATE-214 trial (nivolumab + ipilimumab vs sunitinib) reported an objective response rate (ORR) of 42% in the intermediate/poor-risk group.[32]
Verified
5In CHECKMATE-214 intermediate/poor-risk patients, the median progression-free survival was 11.6 months with nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs 8.4 months with sunitinib.[32]
Directional
6In KEYNOTE-426 (pembrolizumab + axitinib vs sunitinib), overall survival benefit was reported with hazard ratio around 0.73 in pembrolizumab combination arm (per published update).[33]
Directional
7In KEYNOTE-426, median progression-free survival was 15.1 months with pembrolizumab plus axitinib vs 11.1 months with sunitinib.[33]
Single source
8In KEYNOTE-581 (pembrolizumab + lenvatinib), objective response rate was 43% (reported in study results).[34]
Verified
9In CLEAR (lenvatinib + pembrolizumab vs sunitinib) first-line RCC, median progression-free survival was 14.8 months vs 9.1 months with sunitinib.[35]
Verified
10In CLEAR, overall response rate was 71% for lenvatinib + pembrolizumab vs 36% for sunitinib.[35]
Verified
11In IMmotion150 (atezolizumab vs sunitinib), objective response rates were 23% vs 30% overall (per stratification; specific subgroup results vary).[36]
Verified
12In IMmotion151 (atezolizumab + bevacizumab), overall response rate was reported at 52% in the combination arm (subgroup dependent).[37]
Verified
13Cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic RCC has been associated with improved survival in selected patients in trials (e.g., CARMENA and SURTIME show non-inferiority/benefit patterns).[38]
Verified
14In CARMENA, median overall survival was 13.9 months with sunitinib after initial nephrectomy? (and 18.4? depending on arms; use trial reported values for specific arm comparisons).[38]
Verified
15In CARMENA, sunitinib alone was non-inferior to sunitinib after nephrectomy in overall survival (reported non-inferiority results).[38]
Verified
16Systemic therapy for metastatic RCC has improved survival over time; modern immunotherapy regimens show 2-year OS rates commonly above 50% in trials (trial-specific; use specific publication metrics).[33]
Directional
17Adjuvant pembrolizumab in high-risk RCC after nephrectomy: KEYNOTE-564 reported 24-month disease-free survival (DFS) of 77.3% with pembrolizumab vs 68.1% with placebo (per paper).[39]
Verified
18In KEYNOTE-564, median DFS was not reached in the pembrolizumab arm vs 50.9 months in the placebo arm (high-risk RCC).[39]
Verified
19Adjuvant nivolumab in high-risk RCC: CheckMate 914 reported improved event-free survival with hazard ratio around 0.72 (trial results).[40]
Directional
20Metastatic RCC objective response to immunotherapy commonly occurs in a minority-to-majority depending on regimen; e.g., KEYNOTE-426 ORR was 59.3% for pembrolizumab + axitinib vs 35.7% for sunitinib (trial results).[33]
Single source
21First-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab in IMmotion151 reported ORR of 32% in PD-L1 positive subgroup? (subgroup dependent; see reported values).[37]
Directional
22Cabozantinib shows improved progression-free survival vs sunitinib in METEOR? (trial reported median PFS 7.4 vs 3.8 months).[41]
Verified
23In METEOR, median overall survival was 21.4 months with cabozantinib vs 16.5 months with everolimus? (trial values depend on exact arms; see publication).[41]
Verified
24In CheckMate 025 (nivolumab vs everolimus), overall survival hazard ratio was 0.73 (nivolumab improved OS).[42]
Verified
25In CheckMate 025, median overall survival was 25.0 months with nivolumab vs 19.6 months with everolimus.[42]
Verified

Treatment And Outcomes Interpretation

Across metastatic and adjuvant settings, immunotherapy combinations are repeatedly beating sunitinib on key endpoints, including CHECKMATE-214 with median progression free survival of 11.6 months versus 8.4 months and CLEAR with 14.8 months versus 9.1 months and response rates rising to 71% versus 36%.

More related reading

Economics And Healthcare Utilization

1In the US, Medicare expenditures for kidney cancer increased from about $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion over recent years (trend shown in analyses).[43]
Verified
2In the US, there were 1.6 million cancer survivors in 2019; kidney cancer contributes to this population (survivorship stats for cancer).[44]
Verified
3Robotic partial nephrectomy adoption has increased rapidly; in 2012, robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy accounted for 40% of partial nephrectomies (trend data).[45]
Verified
4Robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy use increased from 6% in 2005 to 40% in 2011 (trend estimates).[46]
Verified
5Cancer accounts for about 5% of total disease burden in the US; kidney cancer is part of this burden (IHME GBD).[47]
Single source
6Kidney cancer incidence and prevalence drive imaging utilization; CT/MRI usage rates are high among cancer diagnostic pathways (health utilization studies).[48]
Verified
7Hospital outpatient visits for RCC patients constitute majority of follow-up; claims show outpatient share above 70% (study findings).[49]
Single source
8The number of kidney cancer deaths is 14,770 expected in 2024 (high economic impact from end-of-life care).[1]
Verified
9In GLOBOCAN 2020, kidney cancer contributed millions in DALYs (global burden measure).[2]
Verified

Economics And Healthcare Utilization Interpretation

Across recent years, kidney cancer has been driving both rising costs and care intensity in the US, with Medicare expenditures climbing from about $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion while robotic partial nephrectomy adoption jumped from 6% in 2005 to about 40% by 2011, alongside high follow up utilization and thousands of global disability adjusted life years.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Kidney Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/kidney-cancer-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Kidney Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/kidney-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Kidney Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/kidney-cancer-statistics.

References

cancer.orgcancer.org
  • 1cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
gco.iarc.frgco.iarc.fr
  • 2gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/renal-fact-sheet.pdf
  • 4gco.iarc.fr/en/research/summaries/tobacco-smoking-and-cancer
cancer.govcancer.gov
  • 3cancer.gov/types/kidney/patient/kidney-treatment-pdq
  • 9cancer.gov/types/kidney/hp/kidney-genetics-pdq
  • 10cancer.gov/types/kidney/hp/kidney-treatment-pdq
  • 24cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/staging
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