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Does cannabis elevate cancer risk? : Evidence from Mendelian randomization
Dong Niu1,2,3, Chenchen Li1,2, Haoran Qu1,2
1Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450000, City Zhengzhou, China.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|November 10, 2023
Summary
Lifetime cannabis use may lower breast cancer risk, but cannabis use disorder increases the risk for breast and lung cancers. Further research is needed to understand these cancer incidence associations.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cannabis use is rising globally, yet its link to cancer risk is complex due to confounding variables.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for public health and clinical guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cannabis use and cancer incidence using a robust two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
- To differentiate the effects of general cannabis use from cannabis use disorders on cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from large cohorts (ICC, UK-Biobank, 23andMe, Psychiatric Genomics Consortium).
- Employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median methods.
- Assessed the relationship between lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder with nine common tumors.
Main Results:
- Lifetime cannabis use was not associated with the risk of most cancers, but showed a trend towards reduced breast cancer risk (OR=0.981).
- Cannabis use disorder was significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR=1.007) and lung cancer (OR=1.122).
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a potential protective effect of lifetime cannabis use against breast cancer.
- Cannabis use disorder appears to elevate the risk for both breast and lung cancers.
- The underlying biological mechanisms require further investigation.
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