Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components are Linked with Increased Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Iranian Subjects: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

The associations between components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), insulin resistance (IR), and several malignancies have been reported. However, the possible link between IR and dermal malignancies, including non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), has not been investigated to date. In this study, we aimed to examine the possible association between components of MetS, IR, adhesion molecules, and NMSC for the first time. This was a case-control study comprising 73 confirmed cases of NMSC and 72 unrelated healthy controls. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments including fasting blood lipid profile, glucose and insulin assays were performed. To evaluate IR, HOMA-IR formula was used. Though fasting serum glucose showed no significant between-group difference, serum concentrations of insulin (p = 0.048) as well as HOMA-IR (p = 0.037) were both significantly higher in NMSC group than in controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between waist circumference (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.007-1.080, p = 0.018), percent of visceral fat (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.024-1.190, p = 0.01), HOMA-IR (OR: 1.169, 95% CI: 1.004-1.360, p = 0.044), circulating VCAM-1 concentrations (OR: 1.005, 95% CI: 1.003-1.007, p < 0.001) and NMSC risk. Interestingly, the occurrence of MetS was significantly higher in subjects with NMSC than in healthy controls (p = 0.038). MetS and its components were associated with increased NMSC risk.

Acknowledgments

This study represents part of a Ph.D. dissertation of Mrs. Fatemeh Rezaeian under the supervision of Professor Tirang R. Neyestani. The assistance of the staff of the Dermatology Clinics of Razi Hospital and especially all the participants is deeply appreciated.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Novelty

This is the first report of the associations between MetS and its deranged components with increased NMSC risk.

Authors Contributions

This study was designed by TN with the intellectual aids of BN. Statistical analyses were done by FR under the guidance and supervision of BN. All field works were performed by FR. Laboratory bench works were done by FR with the aids of AK, MZ, NS and TN. SHD and AHE helped in clinical assessments and interpretation of findings. The preliminary manuscript was written by FR and revised and finalized by TN.