Cancer

In cancer epidemiology, we investigate potential risk factors including, for instance, metabolic syndrome or aluminium exposure, for cancer incidence and mortality.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of factors characterised by obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and high blood glucose. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is rising worldwide. Individuals with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but little is known about the links with cancer.

We are participating in the Me-Can project, which holds a large database of health examination data of about 570,000 individuals from Sweden, Norway and Austria. Measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol were recorded between 1972 and 2004. Individuals in the database have been followed until their death, emigration or the end of follow-up, according to the principles of epidemiological cohort studies. To obtain cause-of-death and cancer incidence information, the database has been linked to cancer registries in each country. The institute is a key player in the Me-Can project (Cohort profile: Int J Epi 2010).

One recent study of the Me-Can project highlights that the type of metabolic phenotype is important when assessing obesity related cancer risk. Metabolic aberrations further increased the obesity-induced cancer risk, suggesting that both obesity and metabolic aberrations are useful targets for prevention (J Natl Cancer Inst 2023).

In close cooperation with the departments of Gynaecology, Plastic Surgery and Biochemistry we conducted a dase-control study investigating the connection between aluminium exposure and breast cancer (EBioMedicine 2017).