Risk of cancer by transferrin saturation levels and haemochromatosis genotype: population-based study and meta-analysis

Abstract. Ellervik C, Tybjaerg-Hansen A, Nordestgaard BG (Herlev Hospital, Herlev; Naestved Hospital, Naestved; Copenhagen University Hospitals and Faculty of Health Sciences, Copenhagen; Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen; The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark). Risk of cancer by transferrin saturation levels and haemochromatosis genotype: population-based study and meta-analysis. J Intern Med 2011; doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02404.x. Objective. Increased iron overload, whether or not owing to the presence of the haemochromatosis genotype C282Y/C282Y, may be associated with an increased risk of cancer. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated transferrin saturation levels (as a proxy for iron overload) and haemochromatosis genotype C282Y/C282Y are associated with an increased risk of cancer. Methods. We conducted a population-based study of 8763 individuals, of whom 1417 developed a first cancer during 15 years of follow-up, and a meta-analysis. We stratified absolute 10-year risk of cancer by smoking status, an important risk factor. Results. In women, transferrin saturation above 60% versus below 50% was associated with a hazard ratio of 3.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-6.5; P