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Anthropometric factors in differentiated thyroid cancer in French Polynesia: a case–control study

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Abstract

Objectives

French Polynesia has one of the world’s highest thyroid cancer incidence rates. A case–control study among native residents of French Polynesia included 219 cases of differentiated thyroid cancers diagnosed between 1979 and 2004 (195 women/24 men) matched with 359 population controls (315 women/44 men) on the date of birth.

Methods

Anthropometric factors were analyzed by conditional logistic regression.

Results

The risk of thyroid cancer for women in the highest quartile of body mass index (BMI) before diagnosis and at age 18 was 2.3-fold higher (95% CI, 1.1–4.7 p = 0.04) and 2.3-fold higher (95% CI, 1.2–4.4 p < 0.01), respectively, compared with the lowest. Women who were overweight (BMI = 25–29.9 kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) at age 18 and before diagnosis had an increased risk compared with those with a normal lifelong weight (OR = 6.2; 95% CI, 2.5–15.5 p < 0.01). Results for excess weight appeared in similar directions for men, although the number of cases was too small to provide reliable estimates. Height was positively associated with thyroid cancer among men and women.

Conclusion

This study shows the role of excess body weight, especially if the onset is during early adulthood, and elevated height in the risk of differentiated thyroid cancer in populations born in French Polynesia.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC); Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS), Comité de radioprotection de l’EDF; Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire et Environnementale (AFSSE); and the CHILD-THYR EEC program. One of us, Pauline Brindel, was supported by grants from the ARC and the Institut National du Cancer. The authors are grateful to Ms. Lorna Saint Ange for editing. The authors thank: P. Morales, J. Iltis, P. Giraud, P. Didiergeorge, M. Brisard, G. Soubiran, B. Caillou, J. M. Bidard, A. Merceron, M. L. Vanizette, P. Dupire, M. Berges, J. Ienfa, G. de Clermont, N. Cerf, B. Oddo, M. Bambridge, C. Baron, A. Mouchard-Rachet, O. Simonet, D. Lamarque, J. Vabret, J. Delacre, M. P. Darquier, J. Leninger.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM Unit 605, Institut Gustave Roussy, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif Cedex, France

    Pauline Brindel, Françoise Doyon, Vaiana Chungue & Florent de Vathaire

  2. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institut Gustave Roussy, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif Cedex, France

    Pauline Brindel, Françoise Doyon, Vaiana Chungue & Florent de Vathaire

  3. University Paris XI, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif Cedex, France

    Pauline Brindel, Françoise Doyon, Vaiana Chungue & Florent de Vathaire

  4. Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Territorial Hospital Mamao, BP 1640, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Frédérique Rachédi

  5. IPRAME, BP 20709, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Jean-Louis Boissin

  6. Clinique Paofai, BP 2584, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Joseph Sebbag

  7. rue Jeanne d’Arc, BP 2300, 98713, Fare Tony, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Larrys Shan

  8. Department of Biology, Territorial Hospital Mamao, BP 1640, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Frédérique Bost-Bezeaud

  9. Laboratory of Anatomy and Cytopathology Boz and Petitdidier, 9 av Prince hinoi, BP 2039, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    Patrice Petitdidier

  10. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP 529, 98713, Papeete, French Polynesia

    John Paoaafaite & Joseph Teuri

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  1. Pauline Brindel
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  2. Françoise Doyon
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  6. Larrys Shan
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  12. Florent de Vathaire
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Correspondence to Florent de Vathaire.

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Brindel, P., Doyon, F., Rachédi, F. et al. Anthropometric factors in differentiated thyroid cancer in French Polynesia: a case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 20, 581–590 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9266-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9266-y

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