Toenail selenium concentrations and bladder cancer risk in women and men

Prediagnostic selenium concentrations measured in archived toenails were inversely associated with bladder cancer risk in women (P for trend=0.02), but not in men, in a nested case–control study of 338 cases and 341 matched controls. These findings may be due to chance and more studies are needed to determine whether associations between selenium and bladder cancer risk differ by sex

Dairy products, calcium and prostate cancer risk

In a prospective study of 10 011 men with 815 prostate cancer cases, despite plausible biological mechanisms, neither increasing intake levels of dairy products nor calcium from dairy products (P trend; 0.23 and 0.64, respectively), or calcium supplements was associated with prostate cancer risk (relative risk, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.84–1.31)

Gonorrhoea and male bladder cancer in a prospective study

In a prospective cohort study, a close to two-fold elevated risk of bladder cancer was found among men reporting a history of gonorrhoea (relative risk=1.92, 95% CI=1.10–3.33). Our finding warrants further examination of the role of gonorrhoea in bladder carcinogenesis

Circulating insulin-like growth factor axis and the risk of pancreatic cancer in four prospective cohorts

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I induces growth in pancreatic cancer cells and blockade of the IGF-I receptor has antitumour activity. The association of plasma IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) with pancreatic cancer risk has been investigated in two small studies, with conflicting results. We conducted a nested case–control study within four large, prospective cohorts to investigate whether prediagnostic plasma levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Plasma levels in 212 cases and 635 matched controls were compared by conditional logistic regression, with adjustment for other known pancreatic cancer risk factors. No association was observed between plasma levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-3 and incident diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Relative risks for the highest vs the lowest quartile of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60–1.48), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.61–1.52), and 1.21 (95% CI, 0.75–1.92), respectively. The relative risk for the molar ratio of IGF-I and IGFBP-3, a surrogate measure for free IGF-I, was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.54–1.31). Additionally, no association was noted in stratified analyses or when requiring longer follow-up. In four prospective cohorts, we found no association between the risk of pancreatic cancer and prediagnostic plasma levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-3

Gallstones, cholecystectomy, and the risk for developing pancreatic cancer

We examined the relation between gallstones, cholecystectomy, and the development of pancreatic cancer in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Among 104 856 women and 48 928 men without cancer at baseline, we documented 349 cases of pancreatic cancer during up to 16 years of follow-up. Participants were classified according to a history of gallstones or cholecystectomy. The age-adjusted relative risk of pancreatic cancer following cholecystectomy or diagnosis of gallstones was 1.31 (95% CI, 0.93–1.83). However, adjustment for other pancreatic cancer risk factors attenuated the association (RR=1.11, 95% CI, 0.78–1.56); this risk did not increase with increasing time following cholecystectomy or gallstones. Gallstones or cholecystectomy do not appear to be significant risk factors for pancreatic cancer

Animal foods, protein, calcium and prostate cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

We examined consumption of animal foods, protein and calcium in relation to risk of prostate cancer among 142 251 men in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Associations were examined using Cox regression, stratified by recruitment centre and adjusted for height, weight, education, marital status and energy intake. After an average of 8.7 years of follow-up, there were 2727 incident cases of prostate cancer, of which 1131 were known to be localised and 541 advanced-stage disease. A high intake of dairy protein was associated with an increased risk, with a hazard ratio for the top versus the bottom fifth of intake of 1.22 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.41, Ptrend=0.02). After calibration to allow for measurement error, we estimated that a 35-g day−1 increase in consumption of dairy protein was associated with an increase in the risk of prostate cancer of 32% (95% CI: 1–72%, Ptrend=0.04). Calcium from dairy products was also positively associated with risk, but not calcium from other foods. The results support the hypothesis that a high intake of protein or calcium from dairy products may increase the risk for prostate cancer

Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet

It has been estimated that 30–40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60–70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40–50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well

Alcohol and head and neck cancer risk in a prospective study

We investigated the relation between head and neck cancer risk and alcohol consumption in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. During 2 203 500 person-years of follow-up, 611 men and 183 women developed head and neck cancer. With moderate drinking (up to one alcoholic drink per day) as the referent group, non-drinkers showed an increased risk of head and neck cancer (men: hazard ratio (HR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.37–2.06; women: 1.46, 1.02–2.08). Among male and female alcohol drinkers, we observed a significant dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and risk. The HR for consuming >3 drinks per day was significantly higher in women (2.52, 1.46–4.35) than in men (1.48, 1.15–1.90; P for interaction=0.0036). The incidence rates per 100 000 person-years for those who consumed >3 drinks per day were similar in men (77.6) and women (75.3). The higher HRs observed in women resulted from lower incidence rates in the referent group: women (14.7), men (34.4). In summary, drinking >3 alcoholic beverages per day was associated with increased risk in men and women, but consumption of up to one drink per day may be associated with reduced risk relative to non-drinking