Abstract 840: Gallstones and risk of cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas: A prospective study within two U.S. cohorts

Abstract

Abstract Background: As one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases, gallstones may result in inflammation,altered bile flow, and changes in metabolic hormone levels, thereby increasing cancer risk. Previous studiesfor gallstones and cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas from the different data sources, inadequateconfounding adjustment, and whether the association varied by potential risk factors is unclear. Objective: We examined the association of gallstones and cholecystectomy with the risk of cancers of theliver, biliary tract, and pancreas in the United States. Methods: We followed 115 036 women from the Nurses' Health Study (1982-2012) and 49 729 men fromthe Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2012). History of gallstones, including with or withoutperformed cholecystectomy, was reported at baseline and updated through biennial questionnaires. The Coxproportional hazard regression model was used to calculate multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95%confidence intervals (95%CIs). Results: During up to 30-year follow-up, we identified 204 incident liver cancer, 225 biliary tract cancer, and1 147 pancreatic cancer cases. Compared to those without gallstones diagnosis, the multivariable HRs forindividuals with gallstones (untreated or with cholecystectomy) were 1.60 for liver cancer (95%CI: 1.14-2.26),4.79 for biliary tract cancer (95%CI: 3.02-7.58), and 1.13 for pancreatic cancer (95%CI: 0.96-1.32). Themultivariable HRs for individuals with cholecystectomy were 1.33 for liver cancer (95%CI: 0.90-1.95) and1.15 for pancreatic cancer (95%CI: 0.98-1.36). Conclusions: Gallstones were associated with a higher risk of cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and possiblypancreas. Cholecystectomy was associated with a suggestive increased risk of liver and pancreatic cancer.Our findings provide further evidence for a positive association of gallstones with the risk of cancers in thehepato-pancreato-biliary area. Citation Format: Xiao Luo, wanshui yang, Amit Joshi, Kana Wu, Tracey Simon, Chen Yuan, Lina Jin, Lu Long, Mi Na Kim, Chun-Han Lo, Xing Liu, Thomas A. Abrams, Brian M. Wolpin, Andrew T. Chan, Edward L. Giovannucci, Xuehong Zhang. Gallstones and risk of cancers of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas: A prospective study within two U.S. cohorts [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 840.