Physical Activity, Obesity, Height, and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

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Abstract
Cancer of the pancreas represents the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States.1 Nonetheless, other than cigarette smoke, few environmental factors have been linked to the risk of pancreatic cancer.2,3 An association between diabetes and pancreatic cancer has been shown in many studies. In a meta-analysis including more than 20 epidemiologic studies, the pooled relative risk (RR) of pancreatic cancer among those diagnosed with diabetes for at least 5 years was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.2).4 Recently, a positive association between postload plasma glucose concentration and pancreatic cancer risk was found in 2 studies, supporting the hypothesis that impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia play a role in pancreatic cancer etiology.5,6