Association of birth weight with cancer risk: A dose-response
meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization study
Abstract
Background Several articles have shown that birth weight is associated
with the risk of many types of cancers. However, the results are
inconsistent and whether the relationship has a casual effect remains
unknown. Objectives To estimate the association between birth weight and
cancer risk by dose-response meta-analysis and two-sample Mendelian
randomization analysis. Search strategy PubMed and Embase library up to
March 2021. Selection criteria Prospective cohort studies and
case-control studies. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers
collected data and the third reviewer check the accuracy. Summary
relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included.
Main results In our dose-response meta-analysis, six cancers from 46
studies were found to had significant associations with the birth
weight. (Ovarian cancer: RR: 1.21, 95%CI: 1.01-1.44; breast cancer: RR:
1.12, 95%CI: 1.08-1.16; colorectal cancer: RR: 1.20, 95%CI: 1.01-1.43;
endometrial cancer: RR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.78-0.93; prostate cancer: RR:
1.27, 95%CI: 1.01-1.61; testicular cancer: RR: 1.21, 95%CI:
1.03-1.43). As the birth weight gain, the slope of the dose-response
curve of breast cancer increased continuously and the curve of
testicular cancer was U-shaped. (Pnonlinearity<0.001) In the
MR study, seven cancers were included. Only invasive mucinous ovarian
cancer was found to have casual effect on birth weight (OR: 0.62;
95%CI: 0.39-0.97) while other cancers did not. Conclusions There is a
nonlinear dose-response relationship between birth weight and breast
cancer and testicular cancer. And birth weight has a casual effect on
invasive mucinous ovarian cancer. Tweetable abstract Birth weight is
associated with cancer risk but affects it indirectly.