This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1055-9965.EPI-07-0201v1 16/7/1449    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Verhage, B. A.J. Articles by van den Brandt, P. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Verhage, B. A.J. Articles by van den Brandt, P. A.

Anthropometry and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: An Illustration of the Importance of Microscopic Verification

¹ Department of Epidemiology (Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands and ² Department Food and Chemical Risk Analysis, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, the Netherlands

Requests for reprints: Bas A.J. Verhage, Department of Epidemiology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. Phone: 31-43-388-2371; Fax: 31-43-388-4128. E-mail: bas.verhage{at}epid.unimaas.nl

Using data collected of a large population-based cohort study, we studied the association between anthropometric factors and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we investigated whether these associations differ among microscopically confirmed pancreatic cancer (MCPC) cases and non-MCPC (NMCPC) cases. The Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer started in 1986 (120,852 men and women) and uses the case-cohort methodology. After 13.3 years of follow-up, 446 pancreatic cancer cases (of which 65% was microscopically confirmed) and 4,774 subcohort members were available for analysis. The multivariable incidence rate ratio of MCPC of men was 1.10 per increment of 1 kg·m^–2 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.18). Women had a rate ratio of MCPC of 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.13). Obese men [body mass index (BMI) 30 kg·m^–2] had a 2.6-fold increased risk of MCPC compared with men with BMI 23 to 25 kg·m^–2. For women, this increase in risk was 1.7-fold. Change in BMI between age 20 years and baseline was also associated with MCPC in both men and women. In men and women, none of these associations were observed for NMCPC, with the exception of the increased risk for pancreatic cancer in obese men. We observed statistically significant associations between both BMI, gain in BMI, and pancreatic cancer risk. These associations are observed only in MCPC and not in NMCPC. If MCPC and NMCPC had been considered as one group, the reported associations would not have been detected. These findings stress the need to evaluate heterogeneity among pancreatic cancer cases in etiologic studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(7):1449–54)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. P. Keszei, B. A.J. Verhage, M. M. Heinen, R. A. Goldbohm, and P. A. van den Brandt Dietary Folate and Folate Vitamers and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., June 1, 2009; 18(6): 1785 - 1791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Heinen, B. A. J. Verhage, T. A. W. Ambergen, R. A. Goldbohm, and P. A. van den Brandt Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., May 15, 2009; 169(10): 1233 - 1242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Genkinger, D. Spiegelman, K. E. Anderson, L. Bergkvist, L. Bernstein, P. A. van den Brandt, D. R. English, J. L. Freudenheim, C. S. Fuchs, G. G. Giles, et al. Alcohol Intake and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Pooled Analysis of Fourteen Cohort Studies Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2009; 18(3): 765 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M Heinen, B. A. Verhage, L. Lumey, H. A. Brants, R A. Goldbohm, and P. A van den Brandt Glycemic load, glycemic index, and pancreatic cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2008; 87(4): 970 - 977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon, K. Adams, M. Leitzmann, C. Schairer, D. S. Michaud, A. Hollenbeck, A. Schatzkin, and D. T. Silverman Adiposity, Physical Activity, and Pancreatic Cancer in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Cohort Am. J. Epidemiol., March 1, 2008; 167(5): 586 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Berrington de Gonzalez, J. E. Yun, S.-Y. Lee, A. P. Klein, and S. H. Jee Pancreatic Cancer and Factors Associated with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2008; 17(2): 359 - 364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]