April 22, 2026

People with glomerular disease may have a higher risk of cancer

People living with glomerular disease may be at a higher risk of cancer, but it has been difficult to determine how much higher that risk is or who may be most affected.  

To answer these questions, researchers from the University of British Columbia followed over 4,000 patients diagnosed with glomerular disease between 2000 and 2021. They found that these patients had a 30 per cent higher risk of developing cancer compared to the general population. Over time, nearly 1 in 4 patients in the study developed cancer.  

This increased risk was seen across all stages of glomerular disease, from early stages to kidney failure. It was also higher among younger adults under 40, who were almost three times more likely to develop cancer than others their age. The study also found that certain types of cancer were more common in people with glomerular disease, including kidney, colorectal, lung, and lymphoma.  

While the study did not examine why this risk was higher, the researchers suggest it may be linked to a combination of factors. For example, conditions associated with glomerular disease—such as immune system changes and ongoing inflammation—may make it harder for the body to detect and prevent cancer. Certain medications used to treat glomerular disease may also contribute to this increased risk.  

Overall, these findings raise awareness about cancer risk among patients and health care providers. They also suggest a potential need for earlier and/or more tailored cancer screening approaches for people with glomerular disease. Future research will help explore the causes of cancer in this population and identify the most effective ways to screen for and prevent it.  

This research was supported in part by The Kidney Foundation of Canada.