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Causal relationship between immune cells and bladder cancer: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Anneng Hu1, Chunyan Hu, Yuhang Lin
1Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, PR China.
Medicine
|October 1, 2025
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to explore causal links between immune cell traits and bladder cancer (BCa) risk. It identified 16 immune traits with significant associations, offering potential targets for immunotherapy and prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Immune cell involvement in bladder cancer (BCa) is recognized.
- Genetic associations between immune traits and BCa risk require clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate causal relationships between 731 immune cell traits and BCa risk using Mendelian randomization.
- To identify potential targets for bladder cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with inverse variance weighting.
- Utilized immune cell data from a Sardinian cohort (3757 individuals) and BCa data from genome-wide association studies.
- Validated findings using MR-Egger and weighted median methods, including sensitivity analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified 16 immune cell traits with significant associations with BCa risk.
- Five traits were associated with increased BCa risk, while 11 traits showed a protective effect.
- Confirmed no evidence of reverse causality, heterogeneity, or horizontal pleiotropy.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated complex causal links between specific immune cell traits and bladder cancer.
- Provided novel insights into immune system roles in BCa development.
- Highlighted potential avenues for novel immunotherapy strategies and BCa prevention.
