Cancer Causes & Control

, Volume 24, Issue 10, pp 1837–1847 | Cite as

Circulating C-peptide level is a predictive factor for colorectal neoplasia: evidence from the meta-analysis of prospective studies

  • Li Chen
  • Lixia Li
  • Yunpeng Wang
  • Peng Li
  • Liang Luo
  • Bo Yang
  • Hao Wang
  • Meizhu Chen
Original paper

Abstract

Purpose

C-peptide, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, is a marker for insulin production and hyperinsulinemia. Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between circulating C-peptide level and colorectal neoplasia risk; however, the results were not always consistent. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis study to evaluate the association between circulating C-peptide level and the colorectal neoplasia risk.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched for the eligibility studies updated to May 2013, which prospectively evaluated the association between circulating C-peptide level and colorectal neoplasia risk. The summary estimates and 95 % confidential intervals (95 % CIs) for those with the highest quantile C-peptide level in contrast to the lowest quantile were estimated with the random-effects model. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed with the Q test and the I 2 statistic. Potential publication bias was evaluated with the Egger’s test.

Results

We identified 9 nested case–control studies that have recruited a total of 3,109 cases and 4,285 controls met the criteria. From the meta-analysis, we found that subjects with high circulating C-peptide were associated with a 37 % increased colorectal neoplasia risk [pooled odds ratios (OR) 1.37, 95 % CI 1.09–1.72] under the random-effects model. In the stratification studies, we found the association was more prominent in the men (pooled OR 2.34, 95 % CI 1.36–4.04) compared to women (pooled OR 1.41, 95 % CI 0.89–2.25). Significant association between circulating C-peptide level and colon cancer risk was found (pooled OR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.26–2.36), but not for rectal cancer (pooled OR 1.14, 95 % CI 0.75–1.73). No significant publication bias was found for any meta-analysis study.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis studies suggested that higher circulating C-peptide could be a predictive factor for higher colorectal neoplasia susceptibility.

Keywords

C-peptide Colorectal cancer Meta-analysis 

Abbreviations

OR

Odds ratio

95 % CI

95 % confidential interval

IGFBP

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins

IGF

Insulin-like growth factor

Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Clinical Support Grant of the Chinese PLA General Hospital (2012FC-TSYS-4028).

Conflict of interest

The authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Li Chen
    • 1
  • Lixia Li
    • 2
  • Yunpeng Wang
    • 3
  • Peng Li
    • 4
  • Liang Luo
    • 5
  • Bo Yang
    • 6
  • Hao Wang
    • 7
  • Meizhu Chen
    • 3
  1. 1.The Emergency DepartmentThe Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople’s Republic of China
  2. 2.Department of OncologyGuangzhou General Hospital of PLAGuangzhouPeople’s Republic of China
  3. 3.Department of OphthalmologyFuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLAFuzhouPeople’s Republic of China
  4. 4.Department of Oncology SurgeryThe Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople’s Republic of China
  5. 5.Department of Medical Intensive Care UnitThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhouPeople’s Republic of China
  6. 6.Department of General Thoracic SurgeryThe Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople’s Republic of China
  7. 7.The First Geriatric Cardiology DepartmentThe Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingPeople’s Republic of China

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