Mendelian randomisation analysis strongly implicates adiposity with risk of developing colorectal cancer

David Jarvis, Jonathan S Mitchell, Philip J Law, Kimmo Palin, Sari Tuupanen, Alexandra Gylfe, Ulrika A Hänninen, Tatiana Cajuso, Tomas Tanskanen, Johanna Kondelin, Eevi Kaasinen, Antti-Pekka Sarin, Jaakko Kaprio, Johan G Eriksson, Harri Rissanen, Paul Knekt, Eero Pukkala, Pekka Jousilahti, Veikko Salomaa, Samuli RipattiAarno Palotie, Heikki Järvinen, Laura Renkonen-Sinisalo, Anna Lepistö, Jan Böhm, Jukka-Pekka Meklin, Nada A Al-Tassan, Claire Palles, Lynn Martin, Ella Barclay, Susan M Farrington, Maria N Timofeeva, Brian F Meyer, Salma M Wakil, Harry Campbell, Christopher G Smith, Shelley Idziaszczyk, Timothy S Maughan, Richard Kaplan, Rachel Kerr, David Kerr, Daniel D Buchanan, Aung K Win, John L Hopper, Mark A Jenkins, Noralane M Lindor, Polly A Newcomb, Steve Gallinger, David Conti, Fred Schumacher, Graham Casey, Jussi Taipale, Lauri A Aaltonen, Jeremy P Cheadle, Malcolm G Dunlop, Ian P Tomlinson, Richard S Houlston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have associated adiposity with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, such studies do not establish a causal relationship. To minimise bias from confounding we performed a Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to examine the relationship between adiposity and CRC.

METHODS: We used SNPs associated with adult body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), childhood obesity and birth weight as instrumental variables in a MR analysis of 9254 CRC cases and 18 386 controls.

RESULTS: In the MR analysis, the odds ratios (ORs) of CRC risk per unit increase in BMI, WHR and childhood obesity were 1.23 (95% CI: 1.02-1.49, P=0.033), 1.59 (95% CI: 1.08-2.34, P=0.019) and 1.07 (95% CI: 1.03-1.13, P=0.018), respectively. There was no evidence for association between birth weight and CRC (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.89-1.67, P=0.22). Combining these data with a concurrent MR-based analysis for BMI and WHR with CRC risk (totalling to 18 190 cases, 27 617 controls) provided increased support, ORs for BMI and WHR were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.10-1.44, P=7.7 × 10(-4)) and 1.40 (95% CI: 1.14-1.72, P=1.2 × 10(-3)), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These data provide further evidence for a strong causal relationship between adiposity and the risk of developing CRC highlighting the urgent need for prevention and treatment of adiposity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-72
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Cancer
Volume115
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jul 2016

Keywords

  • Adiposity
  • Adult
  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Random Allocation
  • Journal Article
  • Meta-Analysis

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