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Thyroid Hormones Imbalances and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: a Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

No conclusive information is available about the association between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We therefore aimed to summarize the findings of observational studies on the relation between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and risk of CRC.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in online databases for appropriate publications through July 2023. Random effects model was used to calculate combined effect sizes (ESs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to investigate relationship between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and CRC risk.

Results

Totally, we included 13 studies in the current systematic review and meta-analysis, with a total sample size of 33,557,450 individuals and 25,363 cases of CRC. Pooling 13 effect sizes revealed no significant association between hypothyroidism and risk of CRC (combined effect size: 1.13, 95% CI 0.87–1.48, P = 0.343). There was also no significant association between hyperthyroidism and risk of CRC (combined effect size: 1.09, 95% CI 0.75–1.57, P = 0.638). Additionally, there were significant associations between hypothyroidism and risk of CRC in the Far Eastern studies, between hyperthyroidism and risk of CRC in the Middle East, along with small sample size studies.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis did not reveal any association between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and risk of CRC.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022331089.

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Availability of Data and Materials

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

ESs:

Effect sizes

CIs:

Confidence intervals

THs:

Thyroid hormones

TSH:

Thyroid stimulating hormone

T4:

Tetraiodothyronine

T3:

Triiodothyronine

TRα:

Thyroid hormone receptors alpha

TRβ:

Thyroid hormone receptors beta

TREs:

Thyroid hormone response elements

PRISMA:

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

RR:

Relative risk

HR:

Hazard ratio

OR:

Odds ratio

NOS:

Newcastle-Ottawa Scale

PI3K:

Phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase

HIF1α:

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

DIO3:

Deiodinase type III

DIO2:

Deiodinase type II

rT3:

Reverse T3

NTIS:

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome

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Conceptualization: O.A. and G.S; Methodology: O.A. and G.S; Formal analysis and investigation: O.A.; Writing original draft preparation: O.A. and G.S; Writing review and editing: K.P. and G.E.; Supervision: H.Z. and S.H.D. All authors have approved the submitted draft.

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Correspondence to Hamid Zand.

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Asbaghi, O., Shimi, G., Davoodi, S.H. et al. Thyroid Hormones Imbalances and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: a Meta-analysis. J Gastrointest Canc 55, 105–117 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-023-00979-4

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