Metabolic syndrome components increase endometrial cancer risk

A direct association exists between endometrial cancer risk and individual components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) beyond simply being overweight, according to a case-control study of more than 1,200 women in Italy.

Researchers found that women with type 2 diabetes mellitus were more than twice as likely as those without the disease to develop endometrial cancer (odds ratio [OR], 2.18).

In addition, the ORs for developing endometrial cancer were 1.77 for women with hypertension, 1.20 for women with hyperlipidemia, between 1.62 and 2.23 for women who fit various definitions of central obesity, and 3.83 for women with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m².

Rosato V, Zucchetto A, Bosetti C, et al. Metabolic syndrome and endometrial cancer risk. Ann Oncol. October 11, 2010. Epub ahead of print.