GWAS-Identified Common Variants for Obesity Are Not Associated with the Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer

• Background: Observational studies have consistently associated obesity with colorectal cancer risk. Because both traits are genetically determined and share some metabolic biomarkers, we hypothesized that obesity-related polymorphisms could also influence the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive population-based case-control study in 1,792 German colorectal cancer cases and 1,805 controls to explore associations between 28 obesogenic variants identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and colorectal cancer risk. We also evaluated interactions between polymorphisms and body mass index (BMI), type II diabetes (T2D), and gender. Results: No evidence of association between obesogenic variants and colorectal cancer risk was observed after correction for multiple testing. There was only a remarkable interaction between the LTA(rs1041981) polymorphism and gender, which modified the risk of colorectal cancer [P-interaction - 0.002; males: odds ratio (OR), 1.14; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.00-1.30 vs. females: OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.97]. Conclusions: Our findings showed that obesogenic variants are not a major pathogenetic risk factor for colorectal cancer.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)