The exact cause of renal cell cancer has not been determined. A number of different factors seem to contribute to renal cell cancer. These factors include the following:

• Cigarette smoking doubles the risk of renal cell cancer and contributes to as many as one third of all cases. The more someone smokes, the greater the risk is of that person developing renal cell cancer.
• Obesity is a risk factor. As body weight increases, so does the risk of developing renal cell cancer. This is especially true in women.
• Occupational exposure to petroleum products, heavy metals, solvents, coke-oven emissions, or asbestos
• Cystic kidney disease associated with chronic (long-term) renal insufficiency
• Cystic changes in the kidney and renal dialysis
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, an inherited disease associated with several cancers
• Hereditary renal cancer
• Associated malignancy such as lymphoma

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