Serum albumin and colorectal cancer risk

Objective: To study the relationship between serum albumin and colorectal c ancer occurrence. Design: A case-control study nested within a cohort followed from 1968 to 1 991. Subjects and methods: The albumin concentration was determined from serum s amples stored at -20 degrees C at baseline in 177 incident colorectal cance r cases and 288 controls matched for sex, age and study region. Results: An elevated risk was present of cancer of the left, distal colon a t high serum albumin concentrations. No significant association was observe d for the right, proximal colon or the rectum. The relative risks of cancer of the distal and proximal colon among individuals in the highest and lowe st quartiles of serum albumin were 17.03 (95% confidence interval 1.48-195) and 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.19-3.13), respectively. Conclusions: The present study lends support to the hypothesis that some di etary factor associated with serum albumin may be a risk factor for distal colon cancer. Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant from the Swedish Cancer Fo undation. Descriptors: albumin; antioxidant; cohort studies, colon; neoplasms; rectum .