The Genetic Causal Effect of Autoimmune Diseases on pan-Cancers: Evidence from Mendelian Randomization
2025

The Genetic Causal Effect of Autoimmune Diseases on Pan-Cancers

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Long Yubin, Pan Yujun, Yang Houzhi, Wang Xiangbin, Jiang Zichao, Sun Tianwei

Primary Institution: Tianjin Medical University

Hypothesis

This study aimed to investigate the causal effect of autoimmune diseases on pan-cancers through Mendelian randomization analysis.

Conclusion

This study provides novel genetic epidemiological evidence linking several autoimmune diseases to various cancers.

Supporting Evidence

  • Inflammatory bowel disease significantly increases the risk of rectum cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and skin cancer.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis significantly increases the risk of thyroid gland cancer while reducing the risk of overall cancers.
  • Multiple sclerosis significantly increases the risk of overall cancers and reduces the risk of pancreas cancer.

Takeaway

Some diseases that make your immune system attack your own body can also increase the chances of getting cancer. This study looked at how these diseases might be connected to different types of cancer.

Methodology

The study used Mendelian randomization analysis with GWAS summary datasets of autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Potential Biases

Potential ethnic stratification bias due to the focus on the European population.

Limitations

The findings are limited to the European population and may not apply to other populations; cancers were classified by occurrence site rather than pathological type.

Participant Demographics

The study focused on the European population.

Statistical Information

P-Value

P<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI: 1.005, 1.126

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.7150/jca.103693

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