Dr Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita
Dept of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine & Dermatology (DIGD)
National Institute of Public Health & the Environment (RIVM)
Bilthoven, The Netherlands
http://www.rivm.nl
http://www.utrechtdigestivecenter.nl
Project 1 title
Plasma carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols, and vitamin C and risk of colorectal cancer within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) (2008/23)
Project 2 title
Vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk (2010/252)
Scientific abstract 1
The potential cancer protective effects of vegetables and fruits are partly ascribed to their high content of antioxidants. Blood levels of antioxidants are biomarkers of fruit and vegetable consumption and provide a better estimate of the concentration actually available to cells. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables has not been related to decreased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) in a pooled analysis of fourteen cohort studies. However, epidemiological evidence with respect to the association between blood levels of antioxidants and CRC risk is very scarce.
This study will look at plasma levels of antioxidants in relation to subsequent CRC risk in the EPIC prospective investigation. At enrolment, plasma samples, demographic, lifestyle and dietary data have been collected for participants from 10 European countries. Plasma carotenoid, retinol, tocopherol, and vitamin C levels will be assessed in 1500 CRC cases and 1500 controls within a nested case-control study. The unique features of this study are its large sample size and the inclusion of participants from northern to southern Europe, spanning a wide range of fruits and vegetables consumption and related plasma antioxidant levels. It is hypothesised that prediagnostic high plasma levels of antioxidants are associated with lower CRC risk.
Scientific abstract 2
Background: Pancreatic cancer is not one of the most common cancers in Europe, but it is an aggressive and devastating disease resulting in extremely low survival rates. Therefore, the identification of modifiable risk factors is warranted. With the exception of smoking, family history, pancreatitis, diabetes and obesity as established risk factors, much of the etiology of pancreatic cancer remains unknown.
Several in vivo and in vitro studies as well as ecological studies have suggested that vitamin D may protect against pancreatic cancer risk. The main source of vitamin D is sunlight (90%), while this vitamin can also be consumed through specific food groups, fortified foods and supplements. Thus, to capture total vitamin D status in humans, the concentration of vitamin D (25(OH)D) in the blood should be measured. However, epidemiological studies investigating associations between dietary intake or serum levels of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk are scarce.
Objectives: In the proposed study we aim to address the following research questions:
- What is the association between dietary intake of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk?
- What is the association between serum concentrations of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk?
Setting and methods: The study will be carried out in two European cohort studies, i.e., the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study and the Helseundersokelsen I Nord-Trondelag (HUNT2) study. EPIC is a large multi-center cohort study designed to investigate the relation between food, nutritional status, various lifestyle and environmental factors and the incidence of different forms of cancer. The total cohort of more than 500,000 people consists of subcohorts from 23 centers in 10 European countries. Between 1992 and 2000, dietary and lifestyle questionnaires were filled out and blood samples were collected, which were mainly stored at -196 ºC. An active follow-up of all cohort members and/or linkage to national cancer registries yielded information on pancreatic cancer occurrence.
HUNT2 consists of 66,140 individuals from the Norwegian County of Nord-Trondelag, who were recruited between 1995 and 1997. Participants filled out extensive medical and lifestyle questionnaires and donated a blood sample, which was stored at –80°C. Information on pancreatic cancer diagnoses were collected through the national cancer registry. Up to and including 2010, approximately 590 cases of pancreatic cancer will be identified in EPIC and 130 cases in HUNT2. The serum levels of vitamin D in these 720 cases and 720 matched controls will be assessed by a chemiluminescence method. With conditional logistic regression models, the effect of dietary intake and blood concentrations of vitamin D on pancreatic cancer risk will be evaluated.
Impact: The results of this study will provide new insights into the etiology of pancreatic cancer. This will help in identifying subgroups that may be susceptible to the beneficial effects of vitamin D on pancreatic cancer risk. Given the fact that the prognosis of pancreatic cancer is one of the most dismal of all cancers, prevention programs may well play a crucial role in establishing a reduction in pancreatic cancer mortality.
Project 1 plain language abstract
A relatively high consumption of fruits and vegetables has been suggested to decrease risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), due to their many putatively cancer protective substances. However, recent epidemiological studies do no confirm this. Fruit and vegetable intake have typically been measured using dietary questionnaires which are prone to many measurement errors. Thereby, small protective effects may have been missed. Blood levels of antioxidants are adequate measures of fruit and vegetable consumption and provide a better estimate of the concentration actually available to cells. However, epidemiological studies investigating the association between blood levels of antioxidants and CRC risk are very scarce.
Therefore, we propose to study plasma levels of antioxidants in relation to subsequent CRC risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. At enrolment, plasma samples, demographic, lifestyle and dietary data have been collected for participants from 10 European countries. We will compare plasma carotenoid, retinol, tocopherol, and vitamin C levels between 1500 CRC cases and 1500 controls. Unique features of the proposed study are its large sample size and the inclusion of participants from northern to southern Europe, spanning a wide range of fruits and vegetables consumption and related plasma antioxidant levels.
Project 2 plain language abstract
Background: Pancreatic cancer is not very common, but it is an aggressive disease, which few people survive. It is therefore needed to determine modifiable risk factors. Except for smoking, family history, pancreatits, diabetes and obesity, little is know about factors that influence the development of pancreatic cancer. Several studies have suggested that vitamin D may protect against pancreatic cancer. The largest source of vitamin D is sunlight, while it can also be obtained through specific foods, fortified foods or supplements. The total amount of vitamin D in humans can only be determined by measuring the concentration in blood. Epidemiological studies to investigate the relationship between dietary intake of vitamin D or blood concentrations of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk are scarce.
Aim and goals: In the proposed study we would like to investigate:1)the relationship between dietary intake of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk2)the relationship between blood concentrations of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer risk.
How it will be done: This study will be performed within two European studies. The EPIC study was set-up to investigate the relationship between diet and the occurrence of cancer. The total cohort exists of more than 500,000 participants from 10 European countries. Between 1992 and 2000, dietary and lifestyle questionnaires were filled out and blood samples were collected. Information on the occurrence of pancreatic cancer risk was gathered through active follow-up or through linkage with national cancer registries. The HUNT2 study exists of 66,140 individuals from the Nordic county Nord-Trondelag, who were approached between 1995 and 1997. The participants filled out extensive medical and lifestyle questionnaires and donated a blood sample. Pancreatic cancer patients were found through national cancer registries.Until 2010 approximately 590 pancreatic cancer patients in EPIC and 130 in HUNT2 will have occurred. In blood samples from these 720 participants with pancreatic cancer and 720 participants without pancreatic cancer, blood concentrations of vitamin D will be determined. We will compare the dietary intake as well as blood concentrations of vitamin D between the 720 pancreatic cancer patients and the 720 controls of the EPIC and HUNT2 studies.
Potential impact: Expectations are that the results of the proposed study will give us more insight into the development of pancreatic cancer and its relation to vitamin D. This will help in identifying subgroups that may be susceptible to the beneficial effects of vitamin D on pancreatic cancer risk.
| Institution and location | Degree | Year | Scientific Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands | MD | 1972 | Medical School |
| Royal Tropical Institute Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Training | 1974 | Tropical Medicine |
| John Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA | Master of Public Health | 1981 | International Health |
| University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands | PhD | 1992 | Epidemiology |
| 2009-Present | Unsalaried scientist at the Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology (DIGD), University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| 1999-Present | Project Director Cancer Epidemiology, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment, The Netherlands |
| 1993-1999 | Senior Investigator Cancer Epidemiology, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment, The Netherlands |
| 1991-1993 | Head Dept. of Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment, The Netherlands |
| 1982-1991 | Cancer Epidemiologist, Cancer Epidemiology, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment, The Netherlands |
| 1974-1979 | Associate Program Director, Community Health Project, Victoria Hospital, Dichpalli, India |
| 1973 | Resident Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Bleuland Hospital, Gouda, The Netherlands |
Research interests
The role of diet, nutrition and genetics in cancer etiology, with special interest in the protective effects of diet.
