Meat and fish consumption, APC gene mutations and hMLH1 expression in colon and rectal cancer: a prospective cohort study (The Netherlands).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between meat and fish consumption and APC mutation status and hMLH1 expression in colon and rectal cancer.


METHODS
The associations were investigated in the Netherlands Cohort Study, and included 434 colon and 154 rectal cancer patients on whom case-cohort analyses (subcohort n = 2948) were performed.


RESULTS
Total meat consumption was not associated with the endpoints studied. Meat product (i.e. processed meat) consumption showed a positive association with colon tumours harbouring a truncating APC mutation, whereas beef consumption was associated with an increased risk of colon tumours without a truncating APC mutation (incidence rate ratio (RR) highest versus lowest quartile of intake 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-2.71, p-trend = 0.04 and 1.58, 95% CI 1.10-2.25, p-trend = 0.01, respectively). Consumption of other meat (horsemeat, lamb, mutton, frankfurters and deep-fried meat rolls) was associated with an increased risk of rectal cancer without a truncating APC mutation (RR intake versus no intake 1.79, 95% CI 1.10-2.90). No associations were observed for meat consumption and tumours lacking hMLH1 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that several types of meat may contribute differently to the aetiology of colon and rectal cancer, depending on APC mutation status but not hMLH1 expression of the tumour.
Lüchtenborg
Margreet
M
Department of Epidemiology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Weijenberg
Matty P
MP
de Goeij
Anton F P M
AF
Wark
Petra A
PA
Brink
Mirian
M
Roemen
Guido M J M
GM
Lentjes
Marjolein H F M
MH
de Bruïne
Adriaan P
AP
Goldbohm
R Alexandra
RA
van 't Veer
Pieter
P
van den Brandt
Piet A
PA
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D015870:Gene Expression; D017491:Genes, APC; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009154:Mutation; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1