Pro-Inflammatory Adipokines as Predictors of Incident Cancers in a Chinese Cohort of Low Obesity Prevalence in Hong Kong: e78594

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 10
• Main Authors: Yeung, Chun-Yip, Tso, Annette Wai-Kwan, Xu, Aimin, Wang, Yu, Woo, Yu-Cho, Lam, Tai-Hing, Lo, Su-Vui, Fong, Carol Ho-Yee, Wat, Nelson Ming-Sang, Woo, Jean
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2013
• Subjects: China, People's Rep., Hong Kong
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078594

Background Cytokines released from adipose tissues induce chronic low-grade inflammation, which may enhance cancer development. We investigated whether indices of obesity and circulating adipokine levels could predict incident cancer risk. Materials and Methods This longitudinal community-based study included subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalence Study (CRISPS) study commenced in 1995-1996 (CRISP-1) with baseline assessments including indices of obesity. Subjects were reassessed in 2000-2004 (CRISPS-2) with measurement of serum levels of adipokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2; as a surrogate marker of tumor necrosis factor- alpha activity), leptin, lipocalin 2, adiponectin and adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP). Incident cancer cases were identified up to 31 December 2011. Results 205 of 2893 subjects recruited at CRISPS-1 had developed incident cancers. More of the subjects who developed cancers were obese (22.1 vs 16.1%) or had central obesity (36.6 vs 24.5%) according to Asian cut-offs. Waist circumference (adjusted HR 1.02 [1.00-1.03] per cm; p=0.013), but not body mass index (adjusted HR 1.04 [1.00-1.08] per kg/m2; p=0.063), was a significant independent predictor for incident cancers after adjustment for age, sex and smoking status. 99 of 1899 subjects reassessed at CRISPS-2 had developed cancers. Subjects who developed cancers had significantly higher level of hsCRP, IL-6, sTNFR2 and lipocalin 2. After adjustment for conventional risk factors, only IL-6 (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.18-1.95) and sTNFR2 (HR 3.27, 95%CI 1.65-6.47) predicted cancer development. Conclusions Our data supported the increased risk of malignancy by chronic low grade inflammation related to central obesity.