Lipid peroxidation and colorectal cancer risk: a time-varying relationship

ImportanceWe recently observed an inverse and time-dependent association between systemic oxidative stress (OxS), measured by urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid oxidation, and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Further investigations into other types of OxS markers are warranted. ObjectiveTo extend the investigation into systemic lipid peroxidation and CRC risk. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsUtilizing a nested case-control design, this studys primary analysis was performed in two large prospective cohorts in Shanghai, China, and replicated in an independent cohort in the US. ExposuresSystemic lipid peroxidation was assessed by urinary F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) using UPLC-MS/MS assays. Main Outcomes and MeasuresDuring 15.1-year follow-up in the Shanghai cohorts, 1938 incident CRC cases were identified and matched to one control each through incidence-density sampling. In the US cohort, 285 incident CRC cases were included, each matched to two controls. Odds ratios (ORs) for CRC were calculated using multivariable conditional logistic regression models. ResultsElevated levels of urinary 5-F2t-IsoP (5-iPF2-VI), a major isomer of F2-IsoPs induced solely by free radicals, were associated with reduced risk of CRC in the Shanghai cohorts. This finding was replicated in the US cohort. Moreover, this inverse association was time-dependent, manifesting only in the later years of cancer development. Multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for CRC diagnosed within 5 years of enrollment at the 10th and 90th percentiles of 5-F2t-IsoP levels, relative to the median, were 1.57 (1.26-1.96) and 0.61 (0.42-0.89), respectively, indicating a 2.2-fold difference in risk between the two groups. A stronger association was observed when using the composite index of DNA, RNA and lipid OxS markers, showing a 3.9-fold difference in risk between the two groups. No significant association was found for CRC diagnosed beyond 5 years of enrollment. ConclusionsThis study provides new evidence that systemic OxS is inversely and time-dependently associated with CRC risk in humans. Key PointsO_ST_ABSQuestionC_ST_ABSIs the time-dependent relationship between oxidative stress and tumorigenesis observed at the cellular level in experimental models also present at the systemic level in a population-based setting? FindingsElevated systemic lipid peroxidation, measured by urinary F2-isoprostanes, was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in two large prospective cohort studies in Shanghai, China, which was replicated in an independent cohort in the United States. This association varied over time, showing a stronger effect as cancer advanced. MeaningThis study provides new evidence that systemic oxidative stress is inversely and time-dependently associated with CRC risk in humans.