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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Inflammatory biomarker score and cancer: A population-based prospective cohort study

Authors: Leavitt Morrison, Jari A. Laukkanen, Kimmo Ronkainen, Sudhir Kurl, Jussi Kauhanen, Adetunji T. Toriola

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Inflammation is associated with cancer but there are conflicting reports on associations of biomarkers of inflammation with cancer risk and mortality. We investigated the associations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count with cancer risk and mortality using individual biomarkers, and an inflammatory score derived from both biomarkers.

Methods

We conducted this analysis among 2,570 men enrolled in the population-based, prospective Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study in Finland. During an average follow-up period of 26 years, 653 cancer cases and 287 cancer deaths occurred. We computed a z-score for each participant, with the combined z-score being the sum of each individual’s CRP and leukocyte z-scores. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate associations with cancer risk and mortality.

Results

Using individual biomarkers, elevated leukocyte count was associated with an increased risk of cancer (RR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.04-1.66), and cancer mortality (RR=, 95 % CI 1.39, 0.98-1.97). The corresponding results for CRP were (RR = 1.23, 95 % CI 0.97-1.55) for risk and (RR = 1.15, 95 % CI 0.81-1.64) for cancer mortality. Associations of the biomarkers with cancer appeared to be more robust using the combined z-score. HRs comparing men within the highest z-score quartile to those within the lowest z-score quartiles were 1.47 (95 % CI 1.16-1.88, p-trend < 0.01) for cancer risk, and 1.48 (95 % CI 1.03-2.14, p-trend = 0.09) for cancer mortality.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that inflammation is associated with cancer risk and mortality, and combining inflammatory biomarkers into a score is a robust method of elucidating this association.
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Metadata
Title
Inflammatory biomarker score and cancer: A population-based prospective cohort study
Authors
Leavitt Morrison
Jari A. Laukkanen
Kimmo Ronkainen
Sudhir Kurl
Jussi Kauhanen
Adetunji T. Toriola
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-016-2115-6

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