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Gender and plasma iron biomarkers, but not HFE gene mutations, increase the risk of colorectal cancer and polyps

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

A cohort study of patients included in the Basque Country colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme was carried out to assess the risk of adenomatous polyps and CRC (P-CRC) associated with HFE gene mutations, with gender and with iron biomarkers (serum ferritin (SF), iron (Fe) and transferrin saturation index (TSI)). Among 432 included patients (mean age 59.8 years), 263 were men (60.9 %) and 169 women (39.1 %). P-CRC were identified in 221 patients (51.2 %) and no polyps (NP) in 211 patients (48.8 %). HFE mutations were identified in 43.8 % of the patients. C282Y/wt genotypic frequency was 6.8 % in the P-CRC group and 1.4 % in the NP group (p < 0.05). The allelic frequency was 3.8 versus 1.2 % (p < 0.05). For laboratory, all three iron biomarkers showed a statistically significant difference: mean Fe, 91.29 ± 34 for P-CRC and 80.81 ± 30.59 for NP group. Mean TSI for P-CRC was 24.95 ± 8.90 and 22.74 ± 8.79 for NP group. Mean SF 308.09 ± 536.32 for P-CRC and 177.55 ± 159.95 for NP group. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, only male gender (odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 1.29–3.22), SF (OR = 1.001, 1.0004–1.003) and Fe (OR = 1.01, 1.004–1.02) were related with the presence of CRC and adenoma. Men gender and raised serum iron biomarkers increase the risk of P-CRC.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Health Department of the Basque Country (no. 2010111125).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Mendaro Hospital, 20850, Mendaro, Basque Country, Spain

      Agustin Castiella, Eva Zapata, Leire Zubiaurre & Arantxa Iribarren

    2. Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain

      Fernando Múgica, MªDolores de Juan, Luis Alzate, Ines Gil & Gregorio Urdapilleta

    3. Mondragon Hospital, Mondragon, Spain

      Pedro Otazua

    4. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Donostia University Hospital, CASPe, CIBER-ESP, Biodonostia, Donostia, Spain

      José Ignacio Emparanza

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    1. Agustin Castiella
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    Correspondence to Agustin Castiella.

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    Agustin Castiella and Fernando Múgica contributed equally to this work.

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    Castiella, A., Múgica, F., Zapata, E. et al. Gender and plasma iron biomarkers, but not HFE gene mutations, increase the risk of colorectal cancer and polyps. Tumor Biol. 36, 6959–6963 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3406-2

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3406-2

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