Abstract
Polymorphisms of the transcription factor 7–like 2 (TCF7L2) gene have been associated with insulin sensitivity and diabetes, and the TCF7L2 gene is involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, all factors thought to be important in the etiology of colon cancer. In this confirmatory study, we evaluated the rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism with colon cancer using previously collected data on 1,578 cases and 1,966 controls. We did not observe a statistically significant association between the rs7903146 polymorphisms and risk of colon cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.12; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.98-1.28] when evaluating the total population. We did, however, observe a statistically significant interaction between the rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism and recent use of aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; P = 0.001). Increased colon cancer risk associated with the T allele was restricted to those without recent use of aspirin/NSAIDs (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.35-2.02, relative to recent aspirin users, i.e., use of aspirin/NSAIDS within the 2 years before diagnosis, with the CC genotype). Among individuals who reported recent use of aspirin/NSAIDs, the T allele reduced risk of colon cancer (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.98) in a dose-response fashion (P for linear trend across genotypes = 0.03). These data suggest that colon cancer risk associated with the rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism is modified by use of aspirin/NSAIDs. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(4):978–82)
Introduction
The transcription factor 7–like 2 (TCF7L2) gene, also known as TCF-4, has been associated with insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes. Genome-wide association studies have identified the rs7903146 marker as being associated with type 2 diabetes (1). Follow-up studies have consistently shown that this marker is also predictive of developing type 2 diabetes (2). Studies of functionality have shown support for a dominant model, with the T allele being associated with impaired insulin secretion and low response to an oral glucose tolerance test (2). In addition to its functional role in insulin regulation, TCF7L2 is involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (3), which is critical to proper functioning of the APC gene (4, 5). Thus, any cancer-related association with TCF7L2 may stem from its roles either in insulin insensitivity or in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Although biologically plausible, few studies have examined associations between polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene and cancer. There has been one report of an association with endometrial cancer (6) and another with familial breast cancer (7). Because of the well-documented role of the APC gene in development of colon cancer (5, 8), it is reasonable to hypothesize an association between TCF7L2 and colon cancer. Findings by Folsom and colleagues using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study suggest that an association exists.5
Folsom AR,Pankow JS, Peacock JM, Bielenski SJ, Heiss G, Boerwinkle E. Variation in TCF7L2 and increased risk of colon cancer: The AcherosclerosisRisk Communities (ARIC) Study. Diabetes Care 2008 Feb 11.
Using data from a large multicenter study of colon cancer, we looked to confirm those associations as well as to determine other colorectal cancer risk factors that might interact with this pathway given their association with insulin-related factors. Factors evaluated include body mass index (BMI) and variants of insulin-related genes. We also evaluate aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use because high doses of salicylates have been shown to reverse hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia by improving sensitivity to insulin signaling (9) and may therefore modify risk associated with the TCF7L2 polymorphism.
Materials and Methods
Data for the study come from a colon cancer case-control study conducted in Utah, the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, and the Twin Cities Metropolitan area of Minnesota. Eligibility included being between 30 and 79 y of age at time of diagnosis, English speaking, mentally competent to complete the interview, no previous history of colorectal cancer, and no known (as indicated on the pathology report) familial adenomatous polyposis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. Controls were frequency matched to cases by sex and by 5-y age groups. At the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, controls were randomly selected from membership lists. In Utah, controls ≥65 y were randomly selected from lists provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly Health Care Financing Administration) and controls <65 were randomly selected from driver's license lists. In Minnesota, controls were randomly selected from driver's license lists. Study eligibility and recruitment details of the study have been published previously (10, 11). The current analysis is restricted to subjects who provided a blood sample from which the TCF7L2 polymorphism could be genotyped. The colon cancer study population consists of non-Hispanic white cases (n = 1443) and controls (n = 1834), Hispanic cases (n = 61) and controls (n = 75), and African-American cases (n = 71) and controls (n = 55). Two cases and three controls did not report race.
Trained and certified interviewers collected diet and lifestyle data as previously outlined (12, 13). The referent year for the study was the calendar year ∼2 y before date of diagnosis (cases) or selection (controls). Information was collected on demographic factors such as age, sex, and study center; diet, physical activity, aspirin and nonsteroidal drug use, and body size; and other lifestyle factors, including medical, family, and reproductive history.
DNA was extracted from blood drawn from study participants. Genotyping of the rs7903146 polymorphism was done using a Taqman assay obtained from Applied Biosystems. Briefly, 20 ng of genomic DNA were assessed in each participant using a reaction containing assay-specific probes and primers and 1× Taqman universal PCR master mix (contains AmpErase UNG, AmpliTaq Gold polymerase, and reaction buffer) in a 5 μL final volume. Control samples representing all possible genotypes were included at four positions in every 384-well tray. Internal replicates representing >1% of the sample set were blinded and included.
We assessed interaction between the rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism and polymorphisms in the insulin-like growth factor-1 gene (CA repeat and rs5742612), insulin-like growth factor–binding protein 3 (rs2854744 and rs2854746), insulin receptor substrate 1 (rs1801278), and insulin receptor substrate 2 (rs1805097) as previously described (14).
Information on tumor characteristics, including disease stage and survival data, was obtained through local cancer registries. Utah and California tumor registries are part of the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, and the Minnesota registry is a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–funded cancer registry programs. Additionally, we evaluated microsatellite instability (MSI) in tumors as described previously (15).
Statistical Methods
Statistical Analysis System statistical package version 9.1 (SAS Institute) was used to conduct the analyses. We evaluated the distribution of the genotypes by race and compared the TCF7L2 polymorphism to the independent associations of genetic polymorphisms with colon cancer. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between colon cancer and TCF7L2 genotypes; multinomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of tumor characteristics such as MSI and TCF7L2 genotypes. All logistic regression models were adjusted for age at selection or diagnosis, study center, race or ethnicity, sex, BMI (kg/m2), and physical activity. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are used to report associations obtained from the multivariate logistic regression models. Trend is assessed by comparing the log likelihood of a logistic regression model with the variable of interest, entered as an ordered categorical variable, to the log likelihood of a model without the variable of interest using a χ2 test with one degree of freedom. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the joint association of outcome with the TCF7L2 polymorphism and aspirin/NSAIDs, BMI, physical activity, insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin receptor substrate 2, insulin-like growth factor-1, and insulin-like growth factor–binding protein 3. Effect modification between genotypes and exposure variables was evaluated by a likelihood ratio test for a multiplicative interaction term in the logistic regression model.
Results
The study population was primarily male, >65 years of age, and non-Hispanic white (Table 1). The TCF7L2 polymorphism was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the study population, with a minor allele frequency of 0.28 in non-Hispanic white, 0.29 in African-American, and 0.23 in Hispanic controls.
Characteristics of the study population
. | Cases, n (%) . | Controls, n (%) . | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1,578 | 1,966 | ||
TCF7L2 | ||||
CC | 777 (49.2) | 1,027 (52.2) | ||
CT | 677 (42.9) | 786 (40.0) | ||
TT | 124 (7.9) | 153 (7.8) | ||
Age at selection (y) | ||||
30-39 | 24 (1.5) | 41 (2.1) | ||
40-49 | 100 (6.3) | 127 (6.5) | ||
50-59 | 292 (18.5) | 331 (16.8) | ||
60-69 | 551 (34.9) | 678 (34.5) | ||
70-79 | 611 (38.7) | 789 (40.1) | ||
Center | ||||
KPMCP | 762 (48.3) | 799 (40.6) | ||
Minnesota | 565 (35.8) | 798 (40.6) | ||
Utah | 251 (15.9) | 369 (18.8) | ||
Sex | ||||
Male | 884 (56.0) | 1,054 (53.6) | ||
Female | 694 (44.0) | 912 (46.4) | ||
Race | ||||
White, non-Hispanic | 1,443 (91.6) | 1,834 (93.4) | ||
Hispanic | 61 (3.9) | 75 (3.8) | ||
African-American | 71 (4.5) | 55 (2.8) | ||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||
Yes | 490 (33.3) | 808 (44.1) | ||
No | 982 (66.7) | 1,025 (55.9) | ||
Disease stage | ||||
Local | 571 (36.2) | |||
Regional | 798 (50.6) | |||
Distant | 135 (8.6) | |||
Unknown | 74 (4.7) | |||
Tumor site | ||||
Proximal | 718 (45.5) | |||
Distal | 731 (46.3) | |||
Unknown | 129 (8.2) |
. | Cases, n (%) . | Controls, n (%) . | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1,578 | 1,966 | ||
TCF7L2 | ||||
CC | 777 (49.2) | 1,027 (52.2) | ||
CT | 677 (42.9) | 786 (40.0) | ||
TT | 124 (7.9) | 153 (7.8) | ||
Age at selection (y) | ||||
30-39 | 24 (1.5) | 41 (2.1) | ||
40-49 | 100 (6.3) | 127 (6.5) | ||
50-59 | 292 (18.5) | 331 (16.8) | ||
60-69 | 551 (34.9) | 678 (34.5) | ||
70-79 | 611 (38.7) | 789 (40.1) | ||
Center | ||||
KPMCP | 762 (48.3) | 799 (40.6) | ||
Minnesota | 565 (35.8) | 798 (40.6) | ||
Utah | 251 (15.9) | 369 (18.8) | ||
Sex | ||||
Male | 884 (56.0) | 1,054 (53.6) | ||
Female | 694 (44.0) | 912 (46.4) | ||
Race | ||||
White, non-Hispanic | 1,443 (91.6) | 1,834 (93.4) | ||
Hispanic | 61 (3.9) | 75 (3.8) | ||
African-American | 71 (4.5) | 55 (2.8) | ||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||
Yes | 490 (33.3) | 808 (44.1) | ||
No | 982 (66.7) | 1,025 (55.9) | ||
Disease stage | ||||
Local | 571 (36.2) | |||
Regional | 798 (50.6) | |||
Distant | 135 (8.6) | |||
Unknown | 74 (4.7) | |||
Tumor site | ||||
Proximal | 718 (45.5) | |||
Distal | 731 (46.3) | |||
Unknown | 129 (8.2) |
Abbreviation: KPMCP, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program.
We observed no statistically significant association between the TCF7L2 genotypes and risk of colon cancer for all centers combined (Table 2). Center-specific associations showed a statistically significant association for Utah only (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.05-2.03) when using a dominant model that evaluated any T allele relative to the CC genotype. Associations for both the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program and Minnesota sites were close to 1.00 and not statistically significant. No sex- or age-specific associations were detected (data not shown in table). Associations with the rs7903146 polymorphism did not differ by proximal or distal colon subsite (data not shown in table). Similarly, null associations were observed for less advanced disease stage (OR for local, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.30; OR for regional, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.00-1.40; OR for distant disease stage, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.72-1.46). We observed no statistically significant associations between length of survival and the TCF7L2 polymorphism (data not shown in table).
Association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphisms and colon cancer
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | |||
TCF7L2 | ||||||
CC | 1,024 | 776 | 1.00 | |||
CT | 785 | 673 | 1.14 (0.99-1.31) | |||
TT | 153 | 124 | 1.03 (0.80-1.33) | |||
P trend | 0.22 | |||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||
CC | 1,024 | 776 | 1.00 | |||
CT and TT | 938 | 797 | 1.12 (0.98-1.28) |
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | |||
TCF7L2 | ||||||
CC | 1,024 | 776 | 1.00 | |||
CT | 785 | 673 | 1.14 (0.99-1.31) | |||
TT | 153 | 124 | 1.03 (0.80-1.33) | |||
P trend | 0.22 | |||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||
CC | 1,024 | 776 | 1.00 | |||
CT and TT | 938 | 797 | 1.12 (0.98-1.28) |
OR and 95% CI adjusted for age, sex, center, race, BMI, and physical activity.
A statistically significant interaction (P = 0.0001) was observed between recent use of aspirin and or NSAIDs and the TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism. An inverse association with the T allele was observed among those who reported recent use of aspirin/NSAIDs, whereas an increased risk of colon cancer was observed among those who reported no recent aspirin/NSAID use (Table 3). BMI, physical activity, smoking, and insulin-related genotypes did not interact with the rs7903146 TCF7L2 marker (data not shown in table).
Association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism and colon cancer by recent use of aspirin/NSAIDS
. | Recent aspirin/NSAID use . | . | . | No recent aspirin/NSAID use . | . | . | P interaction . | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | Controls . | Cases . | . | . | |||||||
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | n . | n . | OR (95% CI) . | . | |||||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||||||||||
CC | 394 | 269 | 1.00 | 558 | 452 | 1.19 (0.98-1.46) | 0.0001 | |||||||
CT | 339 | 186 | 0.80 (0.63-1.02) | 397 | 449 | 1.65 (1.35-2.03) | ||||||||
TT | 75 | 35 | 0.68 (0.44-1.05) | 70 | 81 | 1.64 (1.14-2.34) | ||||||||
P trend | 0.03 | 0.001 | ||||||||||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||||||||||
CC | 394 | 269 | 1.00 | 558 | 452 | 1.19 (0.98-1.46) | ||||||||
CT and TT | 414 | 221 | 0.78 (0.62-0.98) | 467 | 530 | 1.65 (1.35-2.02) |
. | Recent aspirin/NSAID use . | . | . | No recent aspirin/NSAID use . | . | . | P interaction . | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | Controls . | Cases . | . | . | |||||||
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | n . | n . | OR (95% CI) . | . | |||||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||||||||||
CC | 394 | 269 | 1.00 | 558 | 452 | 1.19 (0.98-1.46) | 0.0001 | |||||||
CT | 339 | 186 | 0.80 (0.63-1.02) | 397 | 449 | 1.65 (1.35-2.03) | ||||||||
TT | 75 | 35 | 0.68 (0.44-1.05) | 70 | 81 | 1.64 (1.14-2.34) | ||||||||
P trend | 0.03 | 0.001 | ||||||||||||
TCF7L2 | ||||||||||||||
CC | 394 | 269 | 1.00 | 558 | 452 | 1.19 (0.98-1.46) | ||||||||
CT and TT | 414 | 221 | 0.78 (0.62-0.98) | 467 | 530 | 1.65 (1.35-2.02) |
OR and 95% CI adjusted for age, center, race, sex, BMI, and physical activity.
The TCF7L2 polymorphism was not associated uniquely with MSI; having either the CT or TT genotypes was associated with a slightly greater influence among microsatellite stable (MSS; OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.99-1.36) versus MSI unstable tumors (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.77-1.42). The interaction between NSAIDs and the TCF7L2 genotype was slightly stronger for MSS versus MSI tumors (Table 4). Among those with a T allele, aspirin modifies the risk of both MSS and MSI tumors. However, the likelihood of a MSI but not MSS tumor is influenced by those carrying the CC genotype and taking aspirin/NSAIDs.
Association between TCF7L2 genotype and MSS and MSI colon tumors by use of aspirin/NSAIDs
. | TCF7L2 . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | CC . | . | . | CT and TT . | . | . | ||||||
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | Controls . | Cases . | . | ||||||
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | n . | n . | OR (95% CI) . | ||||||
MSS cases vs controls | ||||||||||||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||||||||||
Yes | 394 | 180 | 1.00 | 414 | 146 | 0.77 (0.59-1.00) | ||||||
No | 558 | 275 | 1.09 (0.87-1.37) | 467 | 331 | 1.54 (1.23-1.93) | ||||||
P interaction | 0.0002 | |||||||||||
MSI cases vs controls | ||||||||||||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||||||||||
Yes | 394 | 30 | 1.00 | 414 | 25 | 0.81 (0.47-1.39) | ||||||
No | 558 | 58 | 1.41 (0.89-2.23) | 467 | 61 | 1.75 (1.10-2.77) | ||||||
P interaction | 0.07 |
. | TCF7L2 . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
. | CC . | . | . | CT and TT . | . | . | ||||||
. | Controls . | Cases . | . | Controls . | Cases . | . | ||||||
. | n . | n . | OR* (95% CI) . | n . | n . | OR (95% CI) . | ||||||
MSS cases vs controls | ||||||||||||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||||||||||
Yes | 394 | 180 | 1.00 | 414 | 146 | 0.77 (0.59-1.00) | ||||||
No | 558 | 275 | 1.09 (0.87-1.37) | 467 | 331 | 1.54 (1.23-1.93) | ||||||
P interaction | 0.0002 | |||||||||||
MSI cases vs controls | ||||||||||||
Recent aspirin/NSAID use | ||||||||||||
Yes | 394 | 30 | 1.00 | 414 | 25 | 0.81 (0.47-1.39) | ||||||
No | 558 | 58 | 1.41 (0.89-2.23) | 467 | 61 | 1.75 (1.10-2.77) | ||||||
P interaction | 0.07 |
OR and 95% CI adjusted for age, center, race, sex, BMI, and physical activity.
Discussion
The TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism was not associated with colon cancer overall in this population. However, among those who did not report recent use of aspirin/NSAIDs, we observed a modest significant increased risk of colon cancer. On the other hand, individuals who reported recently using aspirin/NSAIDs were at a reduced risk of colon cancer if they had the T allele of the polymorphism. It is not clear if the underlying proportion of the population that uses aspirin/NSAIDs differs in this study from previous studies; however, our results suggest that use of aspirin/NSAIDs may influence the direction and magnitude of the association between the rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism and colon cancer.
Aspirin and use of NSAIDs have been shown to influence colon cancer risk in several disease pathways, including an insulin-related pathway (16, 17) as well as generally reducing the risk of colon cancer (18, 19). High doses of salicylates have been shown to reverse hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in obese rodents by improving sensitivity to insulin signaling (9). In patients with type 2 diabetes, aspirin treatment has been shown to reduce fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and insulin clearance; aspirin reduced hepatic glucose production and improved insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose uptake by 20% (20-25). Insulin resistance and diabetes have been hypothesized to be associated with colon cancer (26), and thus, the TCF7L2 polymorphism, which also has been associated with diabetes and insulin sensitivity, plausibly may modulate colon cancer risk. Our findings that aspirin/NSAIDs modulate the association between TCF7L2 and colon cancer are consistent with previous reports on the association between salicylates and insulin. Our data suggest that the influence of the T allele is modified by the use of aspirin and only increases risk in the absence of aspirin/NSAIDs. Our data further suggest that when carrying the T allele aspirin modifies the risk of both MSS and MSI tumors, whereas when carrying the CC genotype aspirin only affects the risk of having a MSI tumor. We did not observe significant interaction between other insulin-related factors analyzed. Although our findings with aspirin/NSAIDs could be from chance because of several comparisons made, all associations evaluated were hypothesized a priori.
Unlike the study of Folsom and colleagues, we did not observe a statistically significant association between the T allele of the TCF7L2 polymorphism overall, although an increased risk was observed in the Utah population. Methodologic differences between the two studies exist, in that our study was a population-based case-control study, and the study previously reported by Folsom5 was based on prospective follow-up of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort. Differences in association could exist if the genotype was associated with survival and those most critically ill did not participate in the case-control study. However, we did not observe any differences in survival based on TCF7L2 genotype, suggesting that differences in detected association are not the result of selection bias based on poorer response among those who are most ill. The reasons for these differences may therefore be the result of differences in other characteristics of the population, such as recent use of aspirin/NSAIDs, or unmeasured covariates.
The rs7903146 TCF7L2 polymorphism has been associated with development of type 2 diabetes and with insulin sensitivity and secretion (1, 2, 27, 28). Additionally, TCF7L2 is involved in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which is critical to proper functioning of the APC gene involved in colon cancer carcinogenesis (4, 5). Although it is a plausible candidate gene that may be associated with colon cancer, we observed a statistically significant increased risk of colon cancer only among those not using aspirin/NSAIDs; further, in the presence of homozygous C alleles, taking aspirin seems to modify risk of MSI+ tumors rather than MSS tumors, whereas for those with one or two T alleles aspirin seems to modify risk of both MSS and MSI tumors. These results need to be confirmed in other studies.
Grant support: National Cancer Institute grants CA48998, CA85846, and CA61757. This research also was supported by the Utah Cancer Registry, which is funded by Contract #N01-PC-67000 from the National Cancer Institute, with additional support from the State of Utah Department of Health, the Northern California Cancer Registry, and the Sacramento Tumor Registry.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Note: The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Cancer Institute.
Acknowledgments
We thank Michael Hoffman and Thao Tran for genotyping and Sandra Edwards, Karen Curtin, Roger Edwards, Leslie Palmer, Donna Schaffer, Dr. Kristin Anderson, and Judy Morse for data management and collection.