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Prospective study on the association between 36 human blood cell traits and pan-cancer outcomes: a mendelian randomization analysis

  • 0Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease & National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Bmc Cancer +

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November 23, 2024

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November 23, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Higher eosinophil and basophil counts may reduce colorectal cancer risk, while elevated hematocrit is linked to lower ovarian cancer risk. This research explores blood cell traits and cancer associations.

Area Of Science

  • Genetics and Epidemiology
  • Cancer Research
  • Hematology

Background

  • Correlations between blood cell traits and cancer risk are established but causality remains unclear.
  • Previous studies suggest potential risk factors and biological mechanisms linking blood traits to cancer.
  • Further investigation is needed to confirm causal relationships and understand underlying mechanisms.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the causal effects of 36 blood cell traits on the risk of 28 major cancer outcomes.
  • To leverage Mendelian randomization to establish potential causal links between blood parameters and cancer incidence.
  • To assess the impact of specific blood cell counts and hematological markers on various cancer types.

Main Methods

  • Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) using single-nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables.
  • Analyzed 36 blood cell traits for their impact on 28 cancer outcomes in the FinnGen cohort.
  • Conducted 1,008 MR analyses with sensitivity analyses (weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO) to ensure robustness.

Main Results

  • Increased eosinophil count associated with reduced risk of colorectal malignancies (OR=0.7702).
  • Elevated total eosinophil and basophil counts linked to decreased risk of colorectal cancer (OR=0.7798).
  • Higher hematocrit (HCT) levels associated with reduced risk of ovarian cancer (OR=0.5857).

Conclusions

  • Blood cell traits play complex and context-dependent roles in cancer development.
  • Specific blood parameters, like eosinophils, basophils, and hematocrit, show potential causal links to reduced cancer risk.
  • Findings underscore the importance of considering hematological profiles in cancer risk assessment.

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