Abstract
Background: It is unclear whether circulating insulin or glucose levels are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. Few prospective studies have examined this question, and only one study had repeated measurements. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of colorectal cancer risk using the subsample of women in the Women's Health Initiative study whose fasting blood samples, collected at baseline and during follow-up, were analysed for insulin and glucose. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations with colorectal cancer risk in both baseline and time-dependent covariates analyses. Results: Among 4902 non-diabetic women with baseline fasting serum insulin and glucose values, 81 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified over 12 years of follow-up. Baseline glucose levels were positively associated with colorectal cancer and colon cancer risk: multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) comparing the highest (>99.5 mg dl -1) with the lowest tertile (<89.5 mg dl -1): 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-3.15 and 2.25, 95% CI: 1.12-4.51, respectively. Serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment were not associated with risk. Analyses of repeated measurements supported the baseline results. Conclusion: These data suggest that elevated serum glucose levels may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 227-232 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | British Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 106 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 3 2012 |
Keywords
- colorectal cancer
- glucose
- homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance
- serum insulin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research