Cancer-specific Studies in the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics

Thyroid Cancer

Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and Thyroid Cancer
http://dceg.cancer.gov/research/energybalance/thyroid

The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study examined the relations of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity to thyroid cancer in a prospective cohort. Results support an adverse effect of adiposity on risk for developing total and papillary, and possibly follicular thyroid cancers. Based on only 15 cases, adiposity was unrelated to medullary thyroid cancers. Physical activity was unrelated to total thyroid cancer.

Obesity and Thyroid Cancer Risk among U.S. Men and Women
http://dceg.cancer.gov/research/energybalance/thyroid

This pooled analysis examining obesity and thyroid cancer risk includes primary data from five prospective cohorts maintained by the NCI that have accrued 50 or more incident, primary thyroid cancers and have measured height and weight. The investigators plan to examine the relationship between body mass index and thyroid cancer in the pooled study and within the individual cohorts. This analysis and additional investigations of smoking, alcohol intake, medical history of diabetes, and physical activity in relation to thyroid cancer risk are currently underway.