We investigated the relation of overweight and obesity with cancer in a population-based cohort of more than 145 000 Austrian adults over an average of 9.9 years. Incident cancers (n ¼ 6241) were identified through the state cancer registry. Using Cox proportional-hazards models adjusted for smoking and occupation, increases in relative body weight in men were associated with colon cancer (hazard rate (HR) ratio 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15, 5.39 for body mass index (BMI) X35 kg m À2 ) and pancreatic cancer (HR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.17, 4.66 for BMI430 kg m À2 ) compared to participants with normal weight (BMI 18.5 -24.9 kg m À2 ). In women, there was a weak positive association between increasing BMI and all cancers combined, and strong associations with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (HR 2.86, 95% CI: 1.49, 5.49 for BMIX30 kg m À2 ) and cancers of the uterine corpus (HR 3.93, 95% CI: 2.35, 6.56 for BMIX35 kg m À2 ). Incidence of breast cancer was positively associated with high BMI only after age 65 years. These findings provide further evidence that overweight is associated with the incidence of several types of cancer.

The association between obesity and colorectal neoplasia may be mediated by inflammation. Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-A (TNF-A) are elevated in the obese. Adipose tissue can produce and release the inflammatory cytokines that are potentially procarcinogenic. We examined circulating levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-A in relation to risk factors and the prevalence of colorectal adenomas. Plasma levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-A were quantified in 873 participants (242 colorectal adenoma cases and 631 controls) in a colonoscopy-based cross-sectional study conducted between 1998 and 2002. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations between known risk factors for colorectal neoplasia and circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and associations between inflammatory cytokines and colorectal adenomas. Several known risk factors for colorectal neoplasia were associated with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, including older age, current smoking, and increasing adiposity. The prevalence of colorectal adenomas was associated with higher concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-A and, to a lesser degree, with CRP. For IL-6, adjusted odds ratios (OR) for colorectal adenomas were 1.79 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-2.69] for the second highest plasma level and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.24-2.75) for the highest level compared with the reference level. A similar association was found with TNF-A, with adjusted ORs of 1.56 (95% CI, 1.03-2.36) and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.10-2.52), respectively. Our findings indicate that systemic inflammation might be involved in the early development of colorectal neoplasia. [Cancer Res 2008;68(1):323-8]

These findings provide further evidence that elevated blood glucose is associated with the incidence of several types of cancer in men and women.

Although uterine leiomyomata (fibroids) have been the leading indication for hysterectomy in the United States for decades, the epidemiologic data on fibroid prevalence and risk factors is limited. Given the hormonal dependence of fibroids, most earlier studies focused on reproductive or hormonal factors. Recent analyses have extended that focus to other areas. We present previously unpublished data on the association between reproductive tract infections that highlights the need for more detailed studies. Our review suggests that metabolic, dietary, stress, and environmental factors may also play a role in fibroid development.