Colorectal Cancer Risk Linked to Inflammatory Diets

Inflammatory diets contribute to the development of colorectal cancer with low lymphocytic reactions by suppressing the adaptive immune responses within the intestines, according to the findings of a recent study.

In their study, the researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data of 124,433 participants involved in the Nurses’ Health Study (since 1976) and the Health Professional Follow-up study (since 1986). They then calculated the association between empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) scores and colorectal cancer subtype.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Diet Quality Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk
NSAIDs May Improve Survival in Some Colorectal Cancer Patients
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

High EDIP scores were associated with the consumption of red and processed meats, refined grains, carbonated beverages, and some vegetables. Low EDIP scores were associated with the consumption of beer, wine, coffee, tea, yellow and leafy vegetables, and fruit juice.

A total of 1311 incident colon and rectal cancer cases were identified with available tissue samples. The tissue samples were examined for patterns of lymphocytic reactions, including Crohn-like lymphoid reaction, peritumoral lymphocytic reaction, intratumoral periglandular reaction, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

The researchers’ analysis showed a significant association between EDIP and colorectal cancer risk, which varied with the level of peritumoral lymphocytic reaction. Higher EDIP scores were associated with an increased risk for development of colorectal cancer with an absent or low peritumoral lymphocytic reaction. However, the risk for developing tumors with intermediate or high peritumoral lymphocytic reactions was not associated with EDIP scores.

“In a prospective cohort study, we associated inflammatory diets with a higher risk of colorectal cancer subtype that contains little or no peritumoral lymphocytic reaction,” the researchers concluded. “These findings suggest that diet-related inflammation might contribute to development of colorectal cancer, by suppressing the adaptive anti-tumor immune response.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Liu L, Nishihara R, Qian ZR, et al. Association between inflammatory diet pattern and risk of colorectal carcinoma subtypes classified by immune responses to tumor [published online August 30, 2017]. Gastroenterology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.08.045.