Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Relationship between anthropometric factors, radiation exposure, and colon cancer incidence in the Life Span Study cohort of atomic bomb survivors

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

We examined colon cancer risk in atomic bomb survivors to investigate whether excess body weight after the bombings alters sensitivity to radiation effects.

Methods

Of the 56,064 Japanese atomic bomb survivors with follow-up through 2002 with self-reported anthropometric data obtained from periodic mail surveys, 1,142 were diagnosed with colon cancer. We evaluated the influence of body mass index (BMI) and height on radiation-associated colon cancer risk using Poisson regression.

Results

We observed a similar linear dose–response relationship for the 56,064 subjects included in our analysis and the entire cohort of Japanese atomic bomb survivors [excess relative risk (ERR) per Gray (Gy) = 0.53, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.25–0.86]. Elevation in earliest reported BMI, BMI reported closest to colon cancer diagnosis, and time-varying BMI were associated with an elevated risk of colon cancer [relative risk (RR) per 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI = 1.14, 95 % CI 1.03–1.26; RR = 1.16, 95 % CI 1.05–1.27; and RR = 1.15, 95 % CI 1.04–1.27, respectively]. Height was not significantly related to colon cancer risk. Inclusion of anthropometric variables in models had little impact on radiation risk estimates, and there was no evidence that sensitivity to the effect of radiation on colon cancer risk depended on BMI.

Conclusions

Radiation exposure and BMI are both risk factors for colon cancer. BMI at various times after exposure to the atomic bombings does not significantly influence the relationship between radiation dose and colon cancer risk, suggesting that BMI and radiation impact colon cancer risk independently of each other.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. Preston DL, Ron E, Tokuoka S, Funamoto S, Nishi N, Soda M, Mabuchi K, Kodama K (2007) Solid cancer incidence in atomic bomb survivors: 1958–1998. Radiat Res 168(1):1–64. doi:10.1667/RR0763.1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Harriss DJ, Atkinson G, George K, Cable NT, Reilly T, Haboubi N, Zwahlen M, Egger M, Renehan AG (2009) Lifestyle factors and colorectal cancer risk (1): systematic review and meta-analysis of associations with body mass index. Colorectal Dis 11(6):547–563. doi:10.1111/j.1463-1318.2009.01766.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ning Y, Wang L, Giovannucci EL (2010) A quantitative analysis of body mass index and colorectal cancer: findings from 56 observational studies. Obes Rev 11(1):19–30. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00613.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kono S (2004) Secular trend of colon cancer incidence and mortality in relation to fat and meat intake in Japan. Eur J Cancer Prev 13(2):127–132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yiu HY, Whittemore AS, Shibata A (2004) Increasing colorectal cancer incidence rates in Japan. Int J Cancer 109(5):777–781. doi:10.1002/ijc.20030

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Nakashima E, Fujiwara S, Funamoto S (2002) Effect of radiation dose on the height of atomic bomb survivors: a longitudinal study. Radiat Res 158(3):346–351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Otake M, Fujikoshi Y, Funamoto S, Schull WJ (1994) Evidence of radiation-induced reduction of height and body weight from repeated measurements of adults exposed in childhood to the atomic bombs. Radiat Res 140(1):112–122

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nikjoo H, Lindborg L (2010) RBE of low energy electrons and photons. Phys Med Biol 55(10):R65–R109. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/55/10/R01

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brenner DJ, Hall EJ (2007) Computed tomography—an increasing source of radiation exposure. N Engl J Med 357(22):2277–2284. doi:10.1056/NEJMra072149

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chang ML, Hou JK (2011) Cancer risk related to gastrointestinal diagnostic radiation exposure. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 13(5):449–457. doi:10.1007/s11894-011-0214-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Shamseddeen H, Getty JZ, Hamdallah IN, Ali MR (2011) Epidemiology and economic impact of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Surg Clin North Am 91(6):1163–1172. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2011.08.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Center MM, Jemal A, Ward E (2009) International trends in colorectal cancer incidence rates. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 18(6):1688–1694. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-09-0090

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sauvaget C, Nagano J, Allen N, Grant EJ, Beral V (2003) Intake of animal products and stroke mortality in the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Life Span Study. Int J Epidemiol 32(4):536–543

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pierce D, Stram D, Vaeth M (1990) Allowing for random errors in radiation dose estimates for the atomic bomb survivor data. Radiat Res 123(3):275–284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sposto R, Preston D (1992) Correcting for catchment area nonresidency in studies based on tumor registry data. Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima

    Google Scholar 

  16. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Consultation. WHO Technical Report Series No. 854. (1995). World Health Organization, Geneva

  17. Renehan AG, Tyson M, Egger M, Heller RF, Zwahlen M (2008) Body-mass index and incidence of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Lancet 371(9612):569–578. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60269-X

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Calle EE, Miracle-McMahill HL, Thun MJ, Heath CW Jr (1995) Estrogen replacement therapy and risk of fatal colon cancer in a prospective cohort of postmenopausal women. J Natl Cancer Inst 87(7):517–523

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hogan AM, Collins D, Baird AW, Winter DC (2009) Estrogen and gastrointestinal malignancy. Mol Cell Endocrinol 307(1–2):19–24. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2009.03.016

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, LaCroix AZ, Kooperberg C, Stefanick ML, Jackson RD, Beresford SA, Howard BV, Johnson KC, Kotchen JM, Ockene J (2002) Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 288(3):321–333. doi:10.1001/jama.288.3.321

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Simpson ER (2003) Sources of estrogen and their importance. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 86(3–5):225–230. doi:10.1016/S0960-0760(03)00360-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Grant EJ, Neriishi K, Cologne J, Eguchi H, Hayashi T, Geyer S, Izumi S, Nishi N, Land C, Stevens RG, Sharp GB, Nakachi K (2011) Associations of ionizing radiation and breast cancer-related serum hormone and growth factor levels in cancer-free female A-bomb survivors. Radiat Res 176(5):678–687. doi:10.1667/RR2631.1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bostick R, Potter J, Kushi L, Sellers T, Steinmetz K, McKenzie D, Gapstur S, Folsom A (1994) Sugar, meat, and fat intake, and non-dietary risk factors for colon cancer incidence in Iowa women (United States). Cancer Causes Control 5(1):38–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Robsahm T, Tretli S (1999) Height, weight and gastrointestinal cancer: a follow-up study in Norway. Eur J Cancer Prev 8(2):105–113

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Huxley R (2007) The role of lifestyle risk factors on mortality from colorectal cancer in populations of the Asia-Pacific region. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 8(2):191–198

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sung J, Song YM, Lawlor DA, Smith GD, Ebrahim S (2009) Height and site-specific cancer risk: a cohort study of a Korean adult population. Am J Epidemiol 170(1):53–64. doi:10.1093/aje/kwp088

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cats A, Dullaart RP, Kleibeuker JH, Kuipers F, Sluiter WJ, Hardonk MJ, de Vries EG (1996) Increased epithelial cell proliferation in the colon of patients with acromegaly. Cancer Res 56(3):523–526

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Albanes D, Winick M (1988) Are cell number and cell proliferation risk factors for cancer? J Natl Cancer Inst 80(10):772–774

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Otani T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M (2005) Body mass index, body height, and subsequent risk of colorectal cancer in middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and women: Japan public health center-based prospective study. Cancer Causes Control 16(7):839–850. doi:10.1007/s10552-005-4573-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kiyohiko Mabuchi for his thoughtful comments in the preparation of this manuscript. They are grateful for the contributions of the atomic bomb survivors who have contributed to this study. The Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, is a private, non-profit foundation funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). EOS, KJK, EG, RWM, SD, and CIL received support through DOE award DE-HS0000031 to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. The views of the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the two governments.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Health Sciences F-263, Box 357236, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Erin O. Semmens, Robert W. Mathes, Scott Davis & Christopher I. Li

  2. Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA

    Kenneth J. Kopecky, Scott Davis & Christopher I. Li

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Health Sciences F-600, Box 357232, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Kenneth J. Kopecky

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, 732-0815, Hiroshima, Japan

    Eric Grant, Hiromi Sugiyama, Hiroko Moriwaki & Ritsu Sakata

  5. Center for Collaboration and Partnership, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, 162-8636, Tokyo, Japan

    Nobuo Nishi

  6. Department of Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 8-6 Nakagawa 1-chome, Nagasaki, 850-0013, Japan

    Midori Soda

  7. Institute of Radiation Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Association, Maruishi-Daini Bldg. 5F, 1-9-16, Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, 101-0044, Tokyo, Japan

    Fumiyoshi Kasagi

  8. Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, 732-0815, Hiroshima, Japan

    Michiko Yamada & Saeko Fujiwara

  9. Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 8-6 Nakagawa 1-chome, Nagasaki, 850-0013, Japan

    Masazumi Akahoshi

  10. Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, 732-0815, Hiroshima, Japan

    Kazunori Kodama

Authors
  1. Erin O. Semmens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth J. Kopecky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eric Grant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert W. Mathes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nobuo Nishi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hiromi Sugiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hiroko Moriwaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ritsu Sakata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  9. Midori Soda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  10. Fumiyoshi Kasagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  11. Michiko Yamada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  12. Saeko Fujiwara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  13. Masazumi Akahoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  14. Scott Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  15. Kazunori Kodama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  16. Christopher I. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erin O. Semmens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Semmens, E.O., Kopecky, K.J., Grant, E. et al. Relationship between anthropometric factors, radiation exposure, and colon cancer incidence in the Life Span Study cohort of atomic bomb survivors. Cancer Causes Control 24, 27–37 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0086-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0086-8

Keywords