Body mass index and risk of second obesity-associated cancers after colorectal cancer: A pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies

Todd M. Gibson, Yikyung Park, Kim Robien, Meredith S. Shiels, Amanda Black, Joshua N. Sampson, Mark P. Purdue, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Gabriella Andreotti, Stephanie J. Weinstein, Demetrius Albanes, Joseph F. Fraumeni, Rochelle E. Curtis, Amy Berrington De Gonzalez, Lindsay M. Morton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether prediagnostic body mass index (BMI) is associated with risk of second obesity-associated cancers in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, and whether CRC survivors have increased susceptibility to obesity-associated cancer compared with cancer-free individuals. Patients and Methods: Incident first primary CRC cases (N = 11,598) were identified from five prospective cohort studies. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine associations between baseline (prediagnostic) BMI and risk of second obesity-associated cancers (postmenopausal breast, kidney, pancreas, esophageal adenocarcinoma, endometrium) in CRC survivors, and compared associations to those for first obesity-associated cancers in the full cohort. Results: Compared with survivors with normal prediagnostic BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), those who were overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) or obese (30+ kg/m2) had greater risk of a second obesity-associated cancer (n = 224; overweight hazard ratio [HR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.92; obese HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.12; per 5-unit change in BMI HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.29). The magnitude of risk for developing a first primary obesity-associated cancer was similar (overweight HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.21; obese HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.56 to 1.66; per 5-unit change in BMI HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.24). Before diagnosis CRC patients were somewhat more likely than the overall cohort to be overweight (44% v 41%) or obese (25% v 21%). Conclusion: CRC survivors who were overweight or obese before diagnosis had increased risk of second obesity-associated cancers compared with survivors with normal weight. The risks were similar in magnitude to those observed for first cancers in this population, suggesting increased prevalence of overweight or obesity, rather than increased susceptibility, may contribute to elevated second cancer risks in colorectal cancer survivors compared with the general population. These results support emphasis of existing weight guidelines for this high-risk group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4004-4011
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume32
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 10 2014

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Body mass index and risk of second obesity-associated cancers after colorectal cancer: A pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this