Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People with cancer experience high rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Risk of subsequent cancer is also increased in people experiencing their first VTE. The causal mechanisms underlying this association are not completely understood, and it is unknown whether VTE is itself a risk factor for cancer.
METHODS: We used data from large genome-wide association study meta-analyses to perform bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses to estimate causal associations between genetic liability to VTE and risk of 18 different cancers.
RESULTS: We found no conclusive evidence that genetic liability to VTE was causally associated with an increased incidence of cancer, or vice versa. We observed an association between liability to VTE and pancreatic cancer risk [odds ratio for pancreatic cancer: 1.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.40) per log-odds increase in VTE risk, P = 0.002]. However, sensitivity analyses revealed this association was predominantly driven by a variant proxying non-O blood group, with inadequate evidence to suggest a causal relationship.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings do not support the hypothesis that genetic liability to VTE is a cause of cancer. Existing observational epidemiological associations between VTE and cancer are therefore more likely to be driven by pathophysiological changes which occur in the setting of active cancer and anti-cancer treatments. Further work is required to explore and synthesize evidence for these mechanisms.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | dyad170 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | International Journal of Epidemiology |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 20 Dec 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.Research Groups and Themes
- ICEP
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Causal relationships between risk of venous thromboembolism and 18 cancers: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Active
-
8074 (C18281/A29019) ICEP2 - Programme Award: Towards improved casual evidence and enhanced prediction of cancer risk and survival
Martin, R. M. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/20 → 30/09/25
Project: Research
Equipment
-
HPC (High Performance Computing) and HTC (High Throughput Computing) Facilities
Alam, S. R. (Manager), Williams, D. A. G. (Manager), Eccleston, P. E. (Manager) & Greene, D. (Manager)
Facility/equipment: Facility
-
Research Data Storage Facility (RDSF)
Alam, S. R. (Manager), Williams, D. A. G. (Manager) & Eccleston, P. E. (Manager)
IT ServicesFacility/equipment: Facility