Biomarkers of Inflammation and Immune Function and Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

A substantial number of prospective epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the association between biomarkers of inflammation and immune function and risk of colorectal cancer. Although pre-diagnostic concentrations of these biomarkers, especially C-reactive protein, have been associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer in some studies, this association does not seem to have a robust support without hints of bias. Future prospective studies should evaluate multiple inflammatory biomarkers with longitudinal measures over the follow-up taking advantage of new multiplex cytokine quantification arrays and use more sophisticated joint or biomarker pattern statistical approaches to capture the complex and dynamic interplay between biomarkers and risk of colorectal cancer. Large collaborative consortia and Mendelian randomization studies should be encouraged to diminish the threat of biases and improve the reliability of this literature.

Association of Dietary Inflammatory Potential With Colorectal Cancer Risk in Men and Women

“…2 Inflammation plays an important role in cancer development including colorectal cancer. 3,4 Though epidemiological studies have not consistently reported significant associations between pre-diagnosis levels of widely used inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein ( CRP ), interleukin-6 ( IL6 ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF ), and colorectal cancer risk, 5 there is plausible evidence that inflammation plays an important role in colorectal cancer development. For example, obesity, a state of low-grade chronic inflammation, 6 has been associated with colorectal cancer risk.…”

Circulating inflammatory markers and colorectal cancer risk: A prospective case‐cohort study in Japan

“…Studies addressing circulating inflammatory markers were confined to a few candidate markers 9 . However, even the most frequently studied marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), shows inconsistent results across studies.…”

“…However, even the most frequently studied marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), shows inconsistent results across studies. Similarly, evidence for an association between other inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-alpha (TNF-α) and risk of CRC is inconclusive 9 . However, these independently studied markers represent only a subset of the inflammation process, which is a complex interplay of host and the environment affecting various stages of tumor development, progression as well as response to therapies 4, 10, 11 .…”

“…Studies addressing circulating inflammatory markers were confined to a few candidate markers. 9 However, even the most frequently studied marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), shows inconsistent results across studies. Similarly, evidence for an association between other inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-alpha (TNF-α) and risk of CRC is inconclusive.…”

Inflammatory biomarkers, aspirin, and risk of colorectal cancer: Findings from the physicians’ health study

“…Several prospective epidemiologic studies have evaluated the association between plasma inflammatory markers and colorectal cancer risk with mixed results 6 . Among published prospective studies of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), some studies reported a significant association between CRP and colorectal cancer risk 7–10 , whereas the remaining studies were null 11–19 .…”