Metformin’s role in lowering colorectal cancer risk among individuals with diabetes from the Southern Community Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundMetformin, utilized to manage hyperglycemia, has been linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among individuals with diabetes. However, evidence is lacking for non-Hispanic Black individuals and those with lower socioeconomic status (SES), who face elevated risk for both diabetes and CRC. In this study, we investigated the association between metformin use and incident CRC risk within the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS), a racially- and SES-diverse prospective cohort. MethodsParticipants reported their diabetes diagnosis and medications, including metformin, upon enrollment (2002–2009) and during follow-up surveys approximately every five years. Incident cases of CRC were identified through state cancer registries and the National Death Index. Proportional hazards models were employed to explore the relationship between metformin use and CRC risk, adjusted for cancer risk factors. ResultsA total of 25,992 participants with diabetes were included in the analysis, among whom 10,095 were taking metformin. Of these participants, 76% identified as non-Hispanic Black, and 60% reported household incomes <$15,000/year. Metformin use was associated with a significantly lower CRC risk (HR [95% CI]: 0.71 [0.55–0.93]), with consistent results for both colon (0.80 [0.59–1.07]) and rectal cancers (0.49 [0.28–0.86]). The protective association appeared to be stronger among non-Hispanic White individuals (0.51 [0.31–0.85]) compared to non-Hispanic Black participants (0.80 [0.59–1.08], p-interaction =.13). Additionally, a protective association was observed among obese individuals (BMI ≥30 kg/m2, 0.59 [0.43–0.82] but not among non-obese participants (0.99 [0.65–1.51], p-interaction =.05) ConclusionOur findings indicate that metformin use is associated with a reduced risk of CRC in individuals with diabetes, including among those from predominantly low SES backgrounds. These results support previous epidemiological findings, and demonstrate that the protective association for metformin in relation to incident CRC likely generalizes to populations with higher underlying risk.