Publications by authors named "Niki Dimou"
Article Synopsis
- Previous models for predicting weight gain haven't been very effective, leading researchers to explore both traditional environmental factors and genetic markers to enhance accuracy.* -
- A study involving nearly 246,000 participants found that environmental factors provided good predictive ability for weight gain, while genetic models performed poorly, especially at mid-late adulthood.* -
- The research suggests that environmental factors should be incorporated into prevention strategies, and that genetic factors may be more relevant in predicting weight gain earlier in life.*
Article Synopsis
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health concern, and understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact can help identify at-risk groups.
- This study analyzed data from over 45,000 CRC cases to assess both multiplicative and additive interactions between genetic risk scores and various environmental factors, finding no multiplicative interactions but significant additive ones for high genetic susceptibility individuals.
- Results suggest that individuals with high genetic risk could benefit more from lifestyle interventions like reducing alcohol intake or increasing fruit and fiber consumption, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies in CRC care.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers analyzed data from 52 studies, including nearly 31,000 CRC cases and over 41,000 controls, to explore the genetic interactions with regular aspirin/NSAID use.
- * They found significant interactions with genetic variants in two specific regions (6q24.1 and 5p13.1), which could help uncover new targets for understanding how aspirin provides its protective effects against colorectal cancer.
Article Synopsis
- Consumption of fiber, fruits, and vegetables may lower the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but genetic factors might influence this connection.
- A large study involving nearly 70,000 participants identified two significant genetic variants linked to dietary intake and CRC risk using advanced statistical methods.
- The findings suggest specific genetic loci (SLC26A3 and NEGR1) may affect how fiber and fruit consumption interacts with CRC risk, highlighting the need for more research on the underlying mechanisms.
Article Synopsis
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widely increasing disease linked to high body mass index (BMI), but the exact biological processes connecting these two factors are not well understood.
- The study employed Mendelian randomization to explore various biomarkers and lifestyle factors potentially mediating the impact of BMI on CRC risk, focusing on elements like inflammation, insulin levels, and physical activity.
- The findings indicated that higher genetically predicted BMI correlates with increased CRC risk, with evidence suggesting that the relationship might be partly mediated by plasma IGF1, while smoking and physical activity appear to complicate the association rather than mediate it.
It remains unknown whether adiposity subtypes are differentially associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). To move beyond single-trait anthropometric indicators, we derived four multi-trait body shape phenotypes reflecting adiposity subtypes from principal components analysis on body mass index, height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist and hip circumference. A generally obese (PC1) and a tall, centrally obese (PC3) body shape were both positively associated with CRC risk in observational analyses in 329,828 UK Biobank participants (3728 cases).
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- Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may lower the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in women with a higher genetic predisposition to the disease.
- In a study of nearly 30,000 postmenopausal women, those in the highest genetic risk quartile saw a significantly greater reduction in CRC risk when using MHT compared to those in the lowest quartile.
- The findings suggest that integrating genetic risk information could improve CRC risk predictions and inform the assessment of MHT benefits in postmenopausal women.
Background: Tumour-promoting inflammation is a "hallmark" of cancer and conventional epidemiological studies have reported links between various inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The causal nature of these relationships and, thus, the suitability of these markers as intervention targets for cancer prevention is unclear.
Methods: We meta-analysed 6 genome-wide association studies of circulating inflammatory markers comprising 59,969 participants of European ancestry.
Background: Sedentary behaviours have been associated with increased risks of some common cancers in epidemiological studies; however, it is unclear if these associations are causal.
Methods: We used univariable and multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) to examine potential causal relationships between sedentary behaviours and risks of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Genetic variants associated with self-reported leisure television watching and computer use were identified from a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS).
Genome-Wide Gene-Environment Interaction Analyses to Understand the Relationship between Red Meat and Processed Meat Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
March 2024
Article Synopsis
- High consumption of red and processed meats is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, with a study analyzing data from over 29,000 cancer cases and 39,000 control subjects confirming this association.
- The research identified two significant genetic markers (SNPs) that interact with meat consumption levels, suggesting that certain genetic variants can influence individual cancer risk based on dietary habits.
- These findings highlight the potential for using genetic information to better understand colorectal cancer risks related to diet, which may lead to personalized dietary recommendations for specific population subgroups.
Article Synopsis
- A study is exploring how genetic variations might influence the relationship between folate intake and colorectal cancer risk, focusing on specific genetic interactions.
- The research analyzed data from over 30,000 colorectal cancer cases and 42,000 controls, examining the effects of dietary folate and folic acid supplements.
- Results indicated that while higher folate intake is generally linked to lower CRC risk, certain genetic variants (like rs150924902) can modify this effect, with some genotypes showing increased risk with folate supplementation.
Article Synopsis
- Observational studies have hinted that certain white blood cells, especially eosinophils and neutrophils, might play roles in the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), but more direct causal connections needed to be established.
- This research analyzed data from almost 600,000 individuals to explore the impact of various white blood cell types (like basophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes) on CRC risk, using a technique called Mendelian randomization.
- Results indicated that higher counts of eosinophils and lymphocytes could offer protective effects against CRC, reinforcing the importance of investigating how these immune cells relate to cancer development further.
Background: Both the incidence of lung cancer and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been increasing worldwide. The relationship between MetS and lung cancer remains controversial.
Research Question: What is the risk of lung cancer associated with MetS and its components?
Study Design And Methods: Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of MetS-related variables on lung cancer risk, both overall and by histologic subtype, in the UK Biobank.
Article Synopsis
- Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer, but the mechanisms behind this link and the influence of genetic variants need further exploration.!* -
- Researchers conducted a genome-wide analysis using data from over 31,000 colorectal cancer cases and nearly 41,500 controls to investigate gene-environment interactions involving genetics and diabetes.!* -
- Findings revealed that specific genes on chromosomes 8q24.11 (SLC30A8) and 13q14.13 (LRCH1) may affect how diabetes increases colorectal cancer risk, highlighting potential biological pathways related to insulin signaling and immune functions.!*
Background: Tumour-promoting inflammation is a "hallmark" of cancer and conventional epidemiological studies have reported links between various inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The causal nature of these relationships and, thus, the suitability of these markers as intervention targets for cancer prevention is unclear.
Methods: We meta-analysed 6 genome-wide association studies of circulating inflammatory markers comprising 59,969 participants of European ancestry.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of a specific mutational signature (SBS88) in colorectal cancer (CRC), which is linked to a bacteria that produces a genotoxin called colibactin.
- About 7.5% of the CRC cases studied were found to be SBS88-positive, with a notable prevalence in the distal colon and rectum, and demonstrated distinct somatic mutations associated with colibactin-induced DNA damage.
- SBS88-positive CRCs were linked to better survival rates compared to negative cases, suggesting this mutational signature could help identify a unique subtype of CRC that may influence treatment and prevention approaches.
Unlabelled: Sedentary behaviours have been associated with increased risks of some common cancers in epidemiological studies; however, it is unclear if these associations are causal. We examined potential causal associations between self-reported leisure television watching and computer use and risks of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer using a two-sample Mendelian randomization framework. Genetic variants were identified from a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS).
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- - The study examined the relationship between amino acid levels and colorectal cancer risk using data from the EPIC and UK Biobank cohorts, focusing on 654 colorectal cancer cases and matched controls in EPIC.
- - Results indicated that higher levels of histidine were linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, with similar findings for glutamine, although the association for glutamine was not as strong.
- - The findings suggest that elevated histidine levels may lower the risk of colorectal cancer, highlighting the need for further research into amino acid metabolism's role in cancer development.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the link between body shape and breast cancer risk using data from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium, examining traits like BMI and waist-to-hip ratio.
- It found that general adiposity (PC1) was inversely associated with overall breast cancer risk, while specific body shapes (PC2 and PC3) showed varying relationships with different breast cancer sub-types.
- The authors suggest future research should focus on how body shape influences breast cancer risk during different life stages, especially childhood and adolescence.
Background And Aim: This study evaluates the associations between dietary intakes and circulating blood levels of methionine, choline or betaine and breast cancer risk, which remains currently unclear.
Methods: Systematic searches for observational epidemiological studies were performed of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases through July, 2022. Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts against the eligibility criteria at a first stage, and screened full texts of potentially eligible records at a second stage, followed by data extraction from qualified studies.
Article Synopsis
- Tobacco smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer, and certain genetic profiles may heighten this risk further.
- A study involving over 33,000 colorectal cancer cases and nearly 44,000 controls identified specific genetic loci (on chromosomes 3p12.1, 6p21.33, and 8q24.23) that interact with smoking behaviors, potentially leading to a greater risk of developing the disease.
- The research suggests that higher expression of specific genes is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, emphasizing the role of these genetic factors in smoking-related cancer susceptibility and potential avenues for prevention.
Background: Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC), but the evidence for the association is inconsistent across molecular subtypes of the disease.
Methods: We pooled data on body mass index (BMI), tumor microsatellite instability status, CpG island methylator phenotype status, BRAF and KRAS mutations, and Jass classification types for 11 872 CRC cases and 11 013 controls from 11 observational studies. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for covariables.
Resistin is a polypeptide implicated in inflammatory processes, and as such could be linked to colorectal carcinogenesis. In case-control studies, higher resistin levels have been found in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared to healthy individuals. However, evidence for the association between pre-diagnostic resistin and CRC risk is scarce.
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