New longitudinal study from Brunel University of London investigated if metabolic syndrome (MetS) - a collection of simultaneously occurring conditions that include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels - can be used to identify those at risk of endometrial cancer (EC).
In a new study, led by Prof Jayanta Chatterjee from Brunel Medical School, the research team analysed data from over 177,000 women aged 40 to 70 from UK Biobank - a large database of participants recruited from England, Scotland and Wales between 2006 and 2010.
“We set out to explore how different factors of MetS, such as waist size and high blood sugar, impact the chances of developing endometrial cancer (EC) - a type of cancer affecting the lining of the womb,” explained Prof Chatterjee. “We found that UK women with higher waist measurements, obesity and diabetes had a much higher risk of developing the disease, and a further study of pre- and post-menopausal women revealed that in pre-menopausal years, there is a significant additional risk with having MetS over and above that of having a high BMI alone.”
The study has found that MetS increases the risk of developing EC and could potentially be used in screening for EC in the UK by identifying women with various combinations of these conditions. “Early detection of Mets could help identify those at highest risk for EC, especially in women who are obese,” explained Prof Chatterjee. “Simple lifestyle changes, such as weight loss or medication to control blood sugar, could reduce the risk of endometrial cancer in at-risk women,” he added.
“The study underscores the need for better awareness and prevention strategies to tackle MetS, particularly for women who may benefit from earlier intervention to reduce their risk of developing EC.”
“The Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: A UK Biobank Study”, by Rebecca Karkia, Gideon Maccarthy, Annette Payne, Emmanouil Karteris, Raha Pazoki and Jayanta Chatterjee, is published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
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Nadine Palmer,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 267090
nadine.palmer@brunel.ac.uk