High polygenic risk score is a risk factor associated with colorectal cancer based on data from the UK Biobank

Keywords: Colorectal Cancer, Health, Polygenic Risk Score, UK Biobank
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer among both men and women and is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. It is important to identify the risk factors that may be used to help reduce morbidity and mortality of the disease. We used a case-control study design to explore the association between CRC, polygenic risk scores (PRS), and other factors. We extracted data about 2,585 CRC cases and 9,362 controls from the UK Biobank, calculated the PRS for these cases and controls based on 140 single nucleotide polymorphisms, and performed logistic regression analyses for the entire dataset, for an elderly group (ages 50+), and for a younger group (ages 50 and younger). Results of the analysis involving all 11,947 cases and controls revealed five significant risk factors. These five factors are, in descending order of the values of the adjusted odds ratios (aOR), high PRS (aOR: 2.695, CI: 2.273-3.194), male (aOR: 1.519, CI: 1.387-1.664), unemployment (aOR: 1.471, CI: 1.172-1.846), family history of CRC (aOR: 1.440, CI: 1.283-1.616), and age (aOR: 1.014, CI: 1.007-1.022). These five risk factors remain the same for the elderly group. But only high PRS (aOR: 2.869, CI: 1.646-5.000) and family history of CRC (aOR: 1.727, CI: 1.118-2.668) are significant risk factors for the younger group. The findings indicate that high PRS is a risk factor associated with CRC. Additional studies are needed to examine this association using large sample sizes and different population groups.