Secondary colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Li Zhang; Huatian Gan

doi:10.21037/jgo-21-800

Secondary colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Gastrointest Oncol. 2021 Dec;12(6):2882-2890. doi: 10.21037/jgo-21-800.

Authors

Li Zhang^{1

2}, Huatian Gan^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and the Center of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Department of Geriatrics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
³ Lab of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Clinical institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Background: A meta-analysis was conducted on the incidence of colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between UC and colon cancer, and provide a theoretical guidance for clinical diagnoses and treatments of UC.

Methods: Articles were searched in Chinese database with "ulcerative colitis", "UC", "colon cancer", "colorectal cancer", "incidence", and "meta-analysis" as the search terms. Articles were searched in English database with "ulcerative colitis", "UC", "colon cancer", "incidence rate", and "meta-analysis" as the search terms. Moreover, articles with the topic of "correlation between UC and colon cancer" were screened. The quality of articles was assessed using Rev Man 5.3 software provided by Cochrane system.

Results: Eleven articles were included, most of which were of medium and high quality. Results of meta-analysis showed that 12,216 patients with UC were included in this study, and 110 patients developed colon cancer. There was statistical heterogeneity (Chi²=103.10, I²=90%, P<0.00001). Random-effect model analyses showed that there were no significant differences between colon cancer in patients with UC and those without colon cancer (Z=12.44, P<0.00001). A systematic review of articles found that the course and development of colon cancer in patients with UC might affect the occurrence of colon cancer. UC was a risk factor for colorectal cancer.

Discussion: It was found that the course of disease and the occurrence and development of UC might affect the occurrence of colon cancer through a systematic review of articles. UC was one of the risk factors of colorectal cancer.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis (UC); colitis; meta-analysis.