Meat consumption and risk of esophageal and gastric cancer in a large prospective study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Red and processed meats could increase cancer risk through several potential mechanisms involving iron, heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and N-nitroso compounds. Although there have been multiple studies of meat and colorectal cancer, other gastrointestinal malignancies are understudied.

METHODS:

We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between meat, meat components, and meat cooking by-products and risk of esophageal or gastric cancer in a large cohort study. During ∼10 years of follow-up, we accrued 215 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, 630 esophageal adenocarcinomas, 454 gastric cardia adenocarcinomas, and 501 gastric non-cardia adenocarcinomas.

RESULTS:

Red meat intake was positively associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HR for the top versus bottom quintile=1.79, 95% CI: 1.07-3.01, P for trend=0.019). Individuals in the highest intake quintile of 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIQx) had an increased risk for gastric cardia cancer (HR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.07, P for trend=0.104). Furthermore, those in the highest quintile of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), or heme iron intake had a suggestive increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (HR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.97-1.89, P for trend=0.022; HR=1.45, 95% CI: 0.99-2.12, P for trend=0.463; or HR=1.47, 95% CI: 0.99-2.20, P for trend=0.063, respectively). Benzo[a]pyrene, nitrate, and nitrite were not associated with esophageal or gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found positive associations between red meat intake and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and between DiMeIQx intake and gastric cardia cancer.

• Authors: Amanda J Cross, Neal D Freedman, Jiansong Ren, Mary H Ward, Albert R Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, Rashmi Sinha, Christian C Abnet
• Journal: The American journal of gastroenterology (Am J Gastroenterol) Vol. 106 Issue 3 Pg. 432-42 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1572-0241 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20978481 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Carcinogens
• Mutagens
• Quinoxalines
• 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxaline
• Iron

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (epidemiology, etiology)
• Aged
• Carcinogens
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (epidemiology, etiology)
• Cardia
• Esophageal Neoplasms (epidemiology, etiology)
• Feeding Behavior
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Iron (adverse effects)
• Male
• Meat (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Mutagens
• Odds Ratio
• Prospective Studies
• Quinoxalines (adverse effects)
• Risk Factors
• Stomach Neoplasms (epidemiology, etiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• United States (epidemiology)