Application of the Updated WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Score as an Outcome for Cancer Survivors Participating in a Tailored and Intensive Dietary and Physical Activity Intervention

Compliance with the WCRF/AICR Recommendations in Qualitative Adaptation and the Occurrence of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was twofold: (1) the qualitative adaptation of the 2018 WCRF/AICR (QAd-WCRF/AICR) score, and (2) the assessment of the association between the level of compliance with the WCRF/AICR recommendations and the occurrence of breast cancer in peri- and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This case-control study involved 420 women, aged 40-79 years, from northeastern Poland, including 190 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. Data related to the WCRF/AICR recommendations were collected in face-to-face interviews with 409 women, including 179 women with breast cancer. The frequency of food consumption data were collected using the FFQ-6® and KomPAN® questionnaires. Body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. The QAd-WCRF/AICR score (range: 0-8 points) was calculated on the basis of eight components, including two components from to the WCRF/AICR recommendations: (1) body mass index (BMI), and (2) waist circumference, with six components expressed qualitatively: (3) overall physical activity, as well as the frequency of the consumption of (4) vegetables/fruits/whole grains/nuts/seeds/legumes, (5) highly processed foods, including fast foods/sweets/instant soups, (6) red/processed meat, (7) sweetened/energy drinks, and (8) alcohol. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the occurrence of breast cancer.

RESULTS

The moderate (4-5 points) and maximal (6-8 points) compliance with the qualitative adaptation of the WRCF/AICR recommendations reduced the odds of breast cancer by 54% and 72%, respectively, compared to the results noted for minimal compliance (≤3 points). Lower odds of breast cancer were associated with moderate or high physical activity, consumption of a minimum of four serving per day of vegetables/fruits/whole grains/nuts/seeds/legumes, and limiting the consumption of highly processed food/fast foods and red/processed meat to a maximum of 1-3 times/month. Higher odds of breast cancer were associated with a higher waist circumference and alcohol abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may prove useful in establishing cancer prevention recommendations based on simple suggestions regarding the frequency of food consumption.

Association of genetic risk and lifestyle with pancreatic cancer and their age dependency: a large prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors. However, further research is still needed to comprehensively clarify the relationships among lifestyle, genetic factors, their combined effect on PC, and how these associations might be age-dependent.

METHODS

We included 340,631 participants from the UK Biobank. Three polygenic risk score (PRS) models for PC were applied, which were derived from the previous study and were categorized as low, intermediate, and high. Two healthy lifestyle scores (HLSs) were constructed using 9 lifestyle factors based on the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) lifestyle score and the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines and were categorized as unfavorable, intermediate, and favorable. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

There were 1,129 cases of incident PC during a median follow-up of 13.05 years. Higher PRS was significantly associated with an increased risk of PC (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.47-1.71). Adhering to a favorable lifestyle was associated with a lower risk (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.41-0.56). Participants with an unfavorable lifestyle and a high PRS had the highest risk of PC (HR, 2.84; 95% CI, 2.22-3.62). Additionally, when stratified by age, a favorable lifestyle was most pronounced associated with a lower risk of PC among participants aged ≤ 60 years (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.23-0.54). However, the absolute risk reduction was more pronounced among those aged > 70 years (ARR, 0.19%, 95% CI, 0.13%-0.26%). A high PRS was more strongly associated with PC among participants aged ≤ 60 years (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.30-2.73). Furthermore, we observed a significant multiplicative interaction and several significant additive interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

A healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of PC, regardless of the participants' age, sex, or genetic risk. Importantly, our findings indicated the age-dependent association of lifestyle and genetic factors with PC, emphasizing the importance of early adoption for effective prevention and potentially providing invaluable guidance for setting the optimal age to start preventive measures.