Obesity Associated with Pancreatic Cancer Risk

NEW YORK MAY 04, 2007 (Reuters Health) - A review of published evidence suggests a positive association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of pancreatic cancer in men and women, according to a report in the International Journal of Cancer for May 1st.

While epidemiologic studies have associated overweight and obesity with elevated risk of many cancer types, "uncertainty remains about the relation between obesity and the risk of pancreatic cancer," write Dr. Susanna C. Larsson and colleagues from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

The researchers performed a meta-analysis of prospective studies on the association between BMI and the risk of pancreatic cancer. A total of 21 studies, involving almost 3,500,000 subjects and 8062 pancreatic cancer cases, were included in the analysis.

The estimated summary relative risk of pancreatic cancer per 5 kg/m² increase in BMI was 1.12 in men and women combined, 1.16 in men, and 1.10 in women. No evidence of publication bias was observed.

"A positive association between BMI and pancreatic cancer risk is biologically plausible," Dr. Larsson and colleagues comment. "Obesity, especially central obesity, has been related to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and to the development of type 2 diabetes. A number of epidemiologic studies have reported an increase in risk of pancreatic cancer associated with long-standing diabetes."

SOURCE:

• Int J Cancer 2007;120:1993-1998.