Inflammatory Biomarkers with Overall Cancer Prevalence in the MIDUS II Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
- 1Breast Surgery, the Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuan, Fujian, 355000, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Background: The correlation between chronic systemic inflammation and cancer has been inconsistent.
Objective: We evaluated the associations between circulating inflammatory biomarker concentrations and overall cancer prevalence in the adult general population.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 961 participants from the MIDUS II Biomarker Project (2004–2009) with complete measurements of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble E-selectin, and soluble ICAM-1. Cancer history was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed cancer at the time of biomarker assessment. Associations were analyzed using generalized additive models and multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, and exercise.
Results: Cancer history was present in 127 participants (13.2%). In the adjusted model, IL-6 was nominally associated with cancer history (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0–1.4, P = 0.035).. The other seven biomarkers were not significantly associated with cancer history. A subgroup analysis suggested an interaction with cholesterol problems (P for interaction = 0.0435). A combined ROC model including IL-6 showed moderate cross-sectional discrimination for cancer history (AUC = 0.708, sensitivity 75.59%, specificity 59.95%).
Conclusion: In this cross-sectional analysis, IL-6 was nominally associated with cancer history. Because biomarker measurement and cancer history were assessed in the cross-sectional analysis, reverse causation and residual confounding cannot be excluded. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence of prediction or causation. Larger prospective studies with repeated measurements are needed.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026inflammatory,
title = {{Inflammatory Biomarkers with Overall Cancer Prevalence in the MIDUS II Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis}},
author = {Manyuan Wang and Shujian Ruan and Yongming Zhong and Disen Huang and Chengyi Li and Kali Miao},
journal = {International Journal of General Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/ijgm.s629925},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s629925},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Inflammatory Biomarkers with Overall Cancer Prevalence in the MIDUS II Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
AU - Manyuan Wang
AU - Shujian Ruan
AU - Yongming Zhong
AU - Disen Huang
AU - Chengyi Li
AU - Kali Miao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - International Journal of General Medicine
DO - 10.2147/ijgm.s629925
UR - https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s629925
AB - Background: The correlation between chronic systemic inflammation and cancer has been inconsistent. Objective: We evaluated the associations between circulating inflammatory biomarker concentrations and overall cancer prevalence in the adult general population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 961 participants from the MIDUS II Biomarker Project (2004–2009) with complete measurements of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble E-selectin, and soluble ICAM-1. Cancer history was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed cancer at the time of biomarker assessment. Associations were analyzed using generalized additive models and multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, and exercise. Results: Cancer history was present in 127 participants (13.2%). In the adjusted model, IL-6 was nominally associated with cancer history (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0–1.4, P = 0.035).. The other seven biomarkers were not significantly associated with cancer history. A subgroup analysis suggested an interaction with cholesterol problems (P for interaction = 0.0435). A combined ROC model including IL-6 showed moderate cross-sectional discrimination for cancer history (AUC = 0.708, sensitivity 75.59%, specificity 59.95%). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional analysis, IL-6 was nominally associated with cancer history. Because biomarker measurement and cancer history were assessed in the cross-sectional analysis, reverse causation and residual confounding cannot be excluded. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence of prediction or causation. Larger prospective studies with repeated measurements are needed.
SN - 1178-7074
ER -