Which type of kidney injury is most commonly associated with cancer?

Membranous nephropathy is most commonly associated with cancer, particularly solid tumors. This type of kidney injury is characterized by the thickening of the glomerular capillary walls due to immune complex deposition. In adults, secondary causes of membranous nephropathy include malignancies such as lung, breast, and colon cancer. The pathophysiology involves the generation of antibodies that react with the phospholipase A2 receptor in the podocytes, leading to injury and nephron dysfunction.

In contrast, the other types of kidney injury listed are less frequently associated with malignancies. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is often linked to obesity, hypertension, and other vascular complications rather than cancer. Minimal change disease predominantly affects children and is often associated with allergic responses rather than malignancy. Diabetic nephropathy results from chronic hyperglycemia in diabetic patients and is not directly tied to cancer associations. Therefore, membranous nephropathy's association with various cancers makes it the most pertinent choice for the question.