Association between cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy, and risk of breast and gynecological cancers: Evidence from meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization study

Background

Observational studies have shown that cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy are associated with the risk of breast cancer (BC) and gynecological cancers, but whether these relationships are causal has not been established and remains controversial.

Methods

Our study began with a meta-analysis that synthesized data from prior observational studies to examine the association between cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy, and the risk of BC and gynecological cancers. Subsequently, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted utilizing genetic variant data to investigate the potential causal relationship between cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy, and the aforementioned cancers.

Results

The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association between cholecystectomy and the risk of BC (risk ratio [RR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.06, p = 0.002) and endometrial cancer (EC) (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.56, p = 0.031). Conversely, no significant association was observed between cholelithiasis and the risk of BC, EC, and ovarian cancer. The MR analysis revealed no discernible causal connection between cholelithiasis and overall BC (p = 0.053), as well as BC subtypes (including estrogen receptor-positive/negative). Similarly, there was no causal effect of cholecystectomy on BC risk (p = 0.399) and its subtypes. Furthermore, no causal associations were identified between cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy, and the risk of gynecological cancers (ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer [CC]) (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion

This study does not support a causal link between cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy and an increased risk of female cancers such as breast, endometrial, ovarian, and CC.