Heide J, Ribback S, Klatte T, et al. - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) individuals (n = 2,206) surgically treated at three academic institutions in the US and Europe were involved in order to ascertain the prognostic role of co-morbidities on disease outcome in RCC. In univariable analysis, hypertension was related to less advanced T stages, a lower risk of lymph-node and distant metastases, and enhanced cancer-specific survival. Nonetheless, for TNM stages, grading, and ECOG performance status, hypertension was not an independent prognostic factor following adjustment. A relationship between the use of concurrent antihypertensive medications and enhanced survival outcomes was not recognized. All other examined co-morbidities did not reveal important correlations with clinicopathological characteristics or cancer-specific survival. In conclusion, however, in patients with RCC, the reviewed co-morbidities are capable or provoking pathophysiological alterations that are predisposing factors for tumor progression, none is an independent prognostic factor.