Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 1632439, 18 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1632439

Review Article

Worldwide Incidence of Colorectal Cancer, Leukemia, and Lymphoma in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chelle L. Wheat,1,2 Kindra Clark-Snustad,² Beth Devine,1,3 David Grembowski,¹ Timothy A. Thornton,⁴ and Cynthia W. Ko²

¹School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
²Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
³School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
⁴School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

Received 8 February 2016; Accepted 21 March 2016

Academic Editor: Bjørn Moum

Copyright © 2016 Chelle L. Wheat et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background/Aims. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). In addition, there may be an association between leukemia and lymphoma and IBD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the IBD literature to estimate the incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in adult IBD patients. Methods. Studies were identified by a literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Pooled incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years [py]) were calculated through use of a random effects model, unless substantial heterogeneity prevented pooling of estimates. Several stratified analyses and metaregression were performed to explore potential study heterogeneity and bias. Results. Thirty-six articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. For CRC, the pooled incidence rate in CD was 53.3/100,000 py (95% CI 46.3–60.3/100,000). The incidence of leukemia was 1.5/100,000 py (95% CI −0.06–3.0/100,000) in IBD, 0.3/100,000 py (95% CI −1.0–1.6/100,000) in CD, and 13.0/100,000 py (95% CI 5.8–20.3/100,000) in UC. For lymphoma, the pooled incidence rate in CD was 0.8/100,000 py (95% CI −0.4–2.1/100,000). Substantial heterogeneity prevented the pooling of other incidence estimates. Conclusion. The incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in IBD is low.

1. Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is higher in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than in the general population, and CRC accounts for an estimated 10–15% of deaths in patients with IBD [1]. The risk conferred by IBD may be due to chronic inflammation combined with genetic factors [1–3]. Patients with extensive inflammation, a younger age at diagnosis, long disease duration, comorbid primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and pseudopolyposis are at the highest risk [4–14].

IBD patients receiving immunomodulators may or may not also be at higher risk of lymphoproliferative disorders such as lymphoma and leukemia [15–19]. The risk of lymphoma in IBD patients is low but appears to be higher than in the general population [6, 8, 14, 20–22]. The risk of leukemia in IBD is less clear [6, 8, 14, 23, 24].

Understanding the risk of development of these malignancies inherent to IBD is crucial for cancer surveillance strategies. In addition, determination of the absolute increase in risk of these malignancies from IBD pharmacotherapy is a crucial consideration for providers and patients. The aims of this study are to estimate the incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in adult IBD patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Unique to this study, we attempt to evaluate the underlying risk of these cancers in IBD overall and separately Crohn’s Disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and exclude the effects of IBD pharmacotherapy (specifically immunomodulators and biologics), given the evidence that these medications may increase cancer risk.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Literature Search

A detailed literature search was conducted to identify all published and unpublished studies examining the incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in adult IBD patients. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases. Reference lists of published articles were hand searched for secondary sources and experts in the field contacted for unpublished data. Furthermore, https://clinicaltrials.gov/, the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry, and scientific information packets of approved IBD pharmacotherapies were scrutinized for additional information sources. No restrictions on language, country of origin, or publication date were used. Figure 1 outlines the literature search and Supplementary Table  1 (in Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1632439) details the search strategy employed.

Figure 1: Flowchart depicting the identification of studies, inclusion, and exclusion assessment.

2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

All studies that reported incidence or provided information sufficient to accurately calculate incidence for the three cancers of interest in adult IBD patients were included. Studies focusing on pediatric populations, not reporting person-years of follow-up, of duration less than one year, and not written in English and unable to be translated to English were excluded. If publications reported duplicate data on a population, only the publication with the longest follow-up period was included.

2.3. Data Collection and Quality Assessment

Two independent reviewers (CW and KCS) examined each article for inclusion according to the eligibility criteria. Any disagreement was resolved through discussion and consensus. Thirty-six articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-five articles reported incidence estimates for CRC [7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24–39], ten for leukemia [8, 14, 18, 19, 21–24, 33, 39], and twenty-one for lymphoma [8, 10, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 33, 34, 39–48] (some articles reported incidence estimates for multiple cancers). Figure 1 outlines the search flowchart.

We retrieved demographic (where possible) and outcome data for each included article using standardized forms. Individual studies were assigned a bias risk rating using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment Tool: for Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ACROBAT-NRSI) [49]. The strength of evidence for each cancer was assessed utilizing the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach [50].

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Individual study unadjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years [py]) were calculated from the reported number of cancer cases and person-years of follow-up for each outcome separately. Standard errors and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated assuming a Poisson distribution [51]. In situations with zero observed cases, the value of 3.7 was used to calculate incidence rates and the confidence interval upper limit [51].

As our interest is in quantifying the incidence rate of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in IBD patients not treated with immunomodulators or biologic agents (and treatment information is often unreported), two stratification variables were created using study publication year as an estimate of when each medication class became widely used. 1995 was used as the dividing year for widespread immunomodulator use and 2000 for biologic use. Pooled incidence rates with 95% CIs were then calculated for (1) each cancer overall, (2) each cancer in CD and UC separately, (3) each cancer stratified by year of publication, and (4) each cancer stratified by country of origin (to determine if incidence varied by geographic region). A random effects model was used to account for potential between-study variations. The statistic was used to quantify the percentage of heterogeneity for all pooled estimates from between-study variation, with ≥75% indicating substantial heterogeneity [52]. Publication bias and the presence of other small study effects were measured through visual assessment of funnel plot symmetry and Egger’s test [52]. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Metaregression was used to further test the effects of study- and subject-level covariates on cancer risk, as well as the degree of between-study heterogeneity explained by the covariates through calculation of the adjusted . The adjusted measures the relative reduction in the between-study variance explained by the covariates in the model and is presented as a percentage [52]. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata (StataCorp, College Station, TX). values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Results

3.1.1. Colorectal Cancer

Reported incidence rates of CRC in IBD ranged from 41.5/100,000 py (95% CI 24.5–58.5/100,000) to 543.5/100,000 py (95% CI 316.4–770.6/100,000) (Table 1). Substantial heterogeneity prevented pooling of estimates using a random effects model (heterogeneity test, chi² = 174.65; ; ). Therefore, we present unpooled incidence estimates. Separate sensitivity analyses excluding the studies with the highest individual incidence estimate [31] and the study with the greatest weight on the pooled estimate [7] did not significantly change the degree of heterogeneity present.

Table 1: Characteristics of included studies of CRC in IBD.

(a)

Author
Journal
Publication year
Study design
Study population
Region of origin
Number of sites
Study duration (yrs)
Person-years
Number of patients
Diagnosis
Mean age (yrs)
Female (%)
Mean disease duration (yrs)
Surgery (%)

Askling  et  al.  [25]   
Gastroenterology
2001
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
54
169,332 
91,833  
77,499
19,459 
8,810 
10,649
IBD
CD 
UC

48.6
53.0 
45.0

Bernstein  et  al.  [24]
Cancer
2001
Case-control
Administrative claims
Canada
Regionwide
14
41,005 
21,340 
19,665
5,529 
2,857 
2,672
IBD
CD 
UC
39.0
36.3 
41.7
54.5
59.0 
50.0

Farrell  et  al.  [26]
Gut
2000
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
1
9
6,256
782
IBD
44.1
52.0
10.0

Fraser  et  al.  [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
Countywide
35
55,388 
20,494 
34,894
1,578 
584 
994
IBD
CD 
UC
35.0
53.0

Gillen  et  al.  [27]   
Gut
1994
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
30
12,324 
2,320 
10,004
611 
125 
486
IBD
CD 
UC

Herrinton  et  al.  [28]
Gastroenterology
2012
Cohort
Administrative claims
United States
Countywide
12
61,793 
28,469 
33,324
14,875 
5,053 
9,822
IBD
CD 
UC
61.8
62.4 
61.1

Hou  et  al. [29]
Inflamm Bowel Dis
2012
Cohort
National registry
United States
Countrywide
11
112,243
20,949
UC
61.6
5.0
5.0

Jess  et  al. [7]
Gastroenterology
2012
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countywide
29
385,608 
130,391 
255,217
47,374 
14,463 
32,911
IBD
CD 
UC
40.3
35.7 
44.9
55.0
57.0 
53.0

Jess  et  al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35
6,569
374
CD

58.0

Jussila  et  al. [10]   
Scand J Gastroenterol
2013
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
23
232,536 
51,876 
180,660
20,970 
4,983 
15,987
IBD
CD 
UC

Lakatos  et  al. [38]
Inflamm Bowel Dis
2006
Cohort
Provincial registry
Europe (Eastern)
7
11
8,564
723
UC
49.0
47.0
10.0

Lakatos  et  al. [30]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2011
Cohort
Provincial registry
Europe (Eastern)
7
31
5,758
506
CD
31.5
50.4

31.0

Lennard-Jones  et  al. [31]
Gut
1990
Cohort
Surveillance
Europe (Western)
1
21
4,048
401
UC

42.6

Lovasz  et  al.  [32]
J Gastroenterol Liver Dis
2013
Cohort
Provincial registry
Europe (Eastern)
Regionwide
34
7,759
640
CD
28.0
49.8
11.0
38.4

Manninen  et  al.  [11]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2013
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
1
21
22,900 
7,265 
15,635
1,804 
551 
1,253
IBD
CD 
UC
33.0
30.0 
34.0
47.0
51.0 
45.0
13.5
13.0 
13.1
46.0

Mellemkjær  et  al.  [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
16
22,875
2,645
CD

50.0

Mizushima  et  al.  [21]
Digestion
2010
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
20
4,248
294
CD
39.0
30.6

Palli  et  al.  [22]
Gastroenterology
2000
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
1
19
10,592 
2,716 
7,877
920 
231 
689
IBD
CD 
UC

Pasternak  et  al.    [34]
Am J Epidemiology
2013
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
11
304,992
38,772
IBD
47.0
55.0

4.0

Selinger  et  al. [13]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2014
Cohort
Referral center
Australia/New Zealand
2
15
13,423 
5,417 
8,006
881 
377 
504
IBD
CD 
UC
31.5
29.0 
34.0
53.1
59.1 
47.1

van  Schaik    et  al. [35]
Gut
2012
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
8
4,864
835
IBD
43.0
57.0
2.9

Venkataraman  et  al.    [36]
Australian J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2005
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
25
4,901
532
UC

36.8
6.0
8.8

Wandall  et  al.   [37]
Scand J Gastroenterol
2000
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
25
8,101
801
UC
41.0
44.8
10.1
15.9

Winther  et  al.    [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35
22,290
1,160
UC

53.4

Yano  et  al.  [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
25
10,552
770
CD
25.1
31.3
13.1

Did not report separate incidence estimates for CD and UC.

(b)

Author
Journal
Publication year
PSC (%)
Pancolitis (%)
Immunomodulator use (%)
Biologic use (%)
Observed number of CRCs
Incidence rate (per 100,000 persons)
Standard error
95% CI lower bound
95% CI upper bound
Bias rating

Askling et al. [25]
Gastroenterology
2001

10.3
17.0 
4.8

143
40 
103
84.4
43.6 
132.9
7.1
6.9 
13.1
70.6
30.1 
107.2
98.2
57.1 
158.6
Moderate

Bernstein et al. [24]
Cancer
2001

0.0
0.0 
0.0
0.0
0.0 
0.0
60
24 
36
146.3
112.5 
183.1
18.9
23.0 
30.5
109.3
67.5 
123.3
183.3
157.5 
242.9
Moderate

Farrell et al. [26]
Gut
2000

26.0
30.0

3
48.0
27.7
−6.3
102.3
Moderate

Fraser et al. [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002

30.0
0.0
0.0 
0.0
0.0
0.0 
0.0
23
4 
19
41.5
19.5 
54.5
8.7
9.8 
12.5
24.5
0.4 
30.0
58.5
38.6 
79.0
Moderate

Gillen et al. [27]
Gut
1994

37
8 
29
300.2
344.9 
289.9
49.4
121.9 
53.8
203.5
105.9 
184.4
396.9
583.9 
395.4
Moderate

Herrinton et al. [28]
Gastroenterology
2012

82
29 
53
132.7
101.9 
159.0
14.7
18.9 
21.8
104.0
64.8 
116.2
161.4
139.0 
201.8
Moderate

Hou et al. [29]
Inflamm Bowel Dis
2012

183
163.0
12.0
139.4
186.6
Moderate

Jess et al. [7]
Gastroenterology
2012

338
70 
268
87.7
53.7 
105.0
4.8
6.4 
6.4
78.4
41.1 
92.4
97.0
66.3 
117.6
Moderate

Jess et al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004

4
60.9
30.4
1.2
120.6
Moderate

Jussila et al. [10]
Scand J Gastroenterol
2013

189
32 
157
81.3
61.7 
86.9
5.9
10.9 
6.9
69.7
40.3 
73.3
92.9
83.1 
100.5
Moderate

Lakatos et al. [38]
Inflamm Bowel Dis
2006
2.9
25.8

13
151.8
42.1
69.3
234.3
Moderate

Lakatos et al. [30]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2011
1.8

5
86.8
38.8
10.7
162.9
Moderate

Lennard-Jones et al. [31]
Gut
1990

22
543.5
115.9
316.4
770.6
Moderate

Lovasz et al. [32]
J Gastroenterol Liver Dis
2013
0.9
34.5
47.2
7.7
6
77.3
31.6
15.4
139.2
Moderate

Manninen et al. [11]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2013
2.5
1.1 
3.2
43.2
37.7 
49.4

21
5 
16
91.7
68.8 
102.3
20.0
30.8 
25.6
52.5
8.5 
52.2
130.9
129.1 
152.4
Moderate

Mellemkjær et al. [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000

15
65.6
16.9
32.4
98.8
Moderate

Mizushima et al. [21]
Digestion
2010

12.4

6
141.2
57.6
28.2
254.2
Moderate

Palli et al. [22]
Gastroenterology
2000

12
2 
10
113.0
73.6 
127.0
32.6
52.0 
40.2
49.1
−28.4 
48.3
176.9
175.6 
205.7
Moderate

Pasternak et al. [34]
Am J Epidemiology
2013

0.0
0.0
380
124.6
6.4
112.1
137.1
Moderate

Selinger et al. [13]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2014

38.4
37.4 
39.1

29
5 
24
216.0
92.3 
299.8
40.1
41.3 
61.2
137.4
11.4 
179.9
294.6
173.2 
419.7
Moderate

van Schaik et al. [35]
Gut
2012

29.0
0.0
0.0
9
185.0
61.7
64.1
305.9
Moderate

Venkataraman et al. [36]
Australian J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2005

44.0

5
102.0
45.6
12.6
191.4
Moderate

Wandall et al. [37]
Scand J Gastroenterol
2000

18.0

6
74.1
30.3
14.8
133.4
Moderate

Winther et al. [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004

54.0

13
58.3
16.2
26.6
90.0
Moderate

Yano et al. [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013

14.7

9
85.3
28.4
29.6
141.0
Moderate

Reported CRC incidence rates in CD ranged from 19.5/100,000 py (95% CI 0.4–38.6/100,000) to 344.9/100,000 py (95% CI 105.9–583.9/100,000) (Table 1). Using a random effects model, an estimated incidence of CRC in CD of 53.3/100,000 py (95% CI 46.3–60.3/100,000) was obtained. Figure 2 displays the Forest plot for the pooled estimates. In UC, the reported incidence rates ranged from 54.5/100,000 py (95% CI 30.0–79.0/100,000) to 543.5/100,000 py (95% CI 316.4–770.6/100,000). Substantial heterogeneity was again present when pooling using a random effects model (heterogeneity test, chi² = 110.7; ; ), and thus the results in UC were not pooled.

Figure 2: Incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with Crohn’s Disease (CD). Each incidence estimate is presented followed by the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Each square in the plot indicates the point estimate of the incidence. The diamond represents the summary incidence from the pooled studies. Error bars depict the 95% CIs.

Analyses stratified by publication year and region of origin did not reveal any significant differences in results. We also conducted metaregression analyses to evaluate the potential impact of age, gender, race, Montreal Classification, disease duration, surgical history, smoking status, comorbid primary sclerosing cholangitis, presence of extraintestinal manifestations, and concomitant treatment with immunosuppressants and/or biologics on the CRC incidence in IBD. Due to the limited sample size and incomplete reporting of demographic characteristics in many studies, these analyses were underpowered. Together, age, gender, and disease duration explained a significant proportion of the between-study variability (adjusted ); however we could not make any further conclusions regarding the impact of these covariates on CRC incidence in IBD. Evaluation of funnel plots and Egger’s test showed evidence of small study effects and/or publication bias for IBD overall () and weak evidence of small study effects in CD and UC ( CD;  UC). However, the power of these tests may be compromised due to small sample sizes and significant heterogeneity between studies. Given the observational nature of the included studies and the probability of bias from small study effects, the overall quality of the CRC body of evidence per the GRADE approach is low.

3.1.2. Leukemia

Reported incidence rates of leukemia in IBD ranged from 0.0/100,000 py (95% CI 0.0–3.7/100,000) to 28.4/100,000 py (95% CI −3.7–60.5/100,000) (Table 2). Using a random effects model, the pooled estimated incidence of leukemia in IBD of 1.5/100,000 py was obtained (95% CI −0.02–3.0/100,000). Figure 3 illustrates the Forest plot for the pooled estimates. Moderate between-study heterogeneity was seen (heterogeneity test chi² = 23.8, ; ); however this is likely influenced by the small number of available studies. In CD, the range of reported incidence rates was identical to that of IBD (Table 2). In UC, reported incidence rates ranged from 8.97/100,000 py (95% CI 0.2–17.8/100,000) to 25.4/100,000 py (95% CI −9.8–60.6/100,000) (Table 2). The pooled incidence estimate was 0.3/100,000 py for CD (95% CI −1.0–1.6/100,000) and 13.0/100,000 py for UC (95% CI 5.8–20.3/100,000). The statistics are 44.3% (heterogeneity test, chi² = 10.8, ) and 0.0% (heterogeneity test, chi² = 2.65, ), respectively, indicating low levels of heterogeneity; however the power of this analysis is severely limited due to the small number of included studies.

Table 2: Characteristics of included studies of leukemia in IBD.

(a)

Author
Journal
Publication year
Study design
Study population
Region of origin
Number of sites
Study duration (yrs)
Person-years
Number of patients
Diagnosis
Mean age (yrs)
Female (%)
Mean disease duration (yrs)
Surgery (%)

Bernstein et al. [24]
Cancer
2001
Case-control
Administrative claims
Canada
Regionwide
14
41,005  
21,340 
19,665
5,529  
2,857 
2,672
IBD 
CD 
UC
39.0 
36.3 
41.7
54.5 
59.0 
50.0

Fraser et al. [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
35
55,388
1,578
IBD
35.0
53.0

Jess et al. [8]
Am J Gastroenterol
2013
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
1
32
33,843 
11,261 
22,582
2,211 
774 
1,437
IBD 
CD 
UC

53.0 
57.0 
49.0

Jess et al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35
6,569
374
CD

58.0

Lopez et al. [23]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2014
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
3
23,457
10,810
IBD
40.0
53.0

Mellemkjær et al. [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
16
22,875
2,645
CD

50.0

Mizushima et al. [21]
Digestion
2010
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
20
4,248
294
CD
39.0
30.6

Palli et al. [22]
Gastroenterology
2000
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
1
19
10,592 
2,716 
7,877
920 
231 
689
IBD 
CD 
UC

Winther et al. [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35
22,290
1,160
UC

53.4

Yano et al. [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
25
10,552
770
CD
25.1
31.3
13.1

(b)

Author
Journal
Publication year
PSC (%)
Pancolitis (%)
Immunomodulator use (%)
Biologic use (%)
Observed number of leukemia cases
Incidence rate (per 100,000 persons)
Standard error
95% CI lower bound
95% CI upper bound
Bias rating

Bernstein et al. [24]
Cancer
2001

0.0 
0.0 
0.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
7 
3 
4
17.1 
14.1 
20.3
6.5 
8.1 
10.2
4.4 
−1.9 
0.4
29.8 
30.1 
40.2
Moderate

Fraser et al. [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002

30.0
0.0
0.0
1
1.81
1.8
−1.7
5.4
Moderate

Jess et al. [8]
Am J Gastroenterol
2013

26.7 
41.0 
19.0
27.2 
45.0 
18.0

6 
1 
5
17.7 
8.9 
22.1
7.2 
8.9 
9.9
3.5 
−8.5 
2.7
31.9 
26.3 
41.5
Moderate

Jess et al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004

1
15.2
15.2
−14.6
45.1
Moderate

Lopez et al. [23]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2014

0.0
0.0
0.5
2.13
3.0
−3.8
8.0
Moderate

Mellemkjær et al. [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000

3
13.1
7.6
−1.7
27.9
Moderate

Mizushima et al. [21]
Digestion
2010

12.4

0
0.0

0.0
3.7
Moderate

Palli et al. [22]
Gastroenterology
2000

2 
0 
2
19.0 
0.0 
25.4
13.4 

18.0
−7.3 
0.0 
−9.8
45.3 
3.7 
60.6
Moderate

Winther et al. [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004

54.0

4
8.97
4.5
0.2
17.8
Moderate

Yano et al. [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013

14.7

3
28.4
16.4
−3.7
60.5
Moderate

Did not report separate incidence measures for CD and UC.

Figure 3: Incidence of leukemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Each incidence estimate is presented followed by the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Each square in the plot indicates the point estimate of the incidence. The diamond represents the summary incidence from the pooled studies. Error bars depict the 95% CIs.

Stratification by publication year and region did not impact the incidence estimates for IBD or for CD and UC separately. Furthermore, no significant effects of any study- or subject-level covariates on incidence estimates were discovered in metaregression analyses; however the small sample size again restricted the power of these tests.

As less than 10 studies were included, the interpretation of funnel plot symmetry and Egger’s test to assess the presence of small study effects and/or publication bias are not recommended [52]. The overall quality of the leukemia body of evidence, per the GRADE approach, is low due to study designs and small sample size.

3.1.3. Lymphoma

Reported incidence rates for lymphoma in IBD ranged from 0.0/100,000 py (95% CI 0.0–3.7/100,000) to 81.7/100,000 py (95% CI 21.2–142.2/100,000) (Table 3). Substantial heterogeneity between studies prevented pooling of estimates (heterogeneity test, chi² = 591.1; ; ). Thus, the included studies are presented as unpooled estimates. A sensitivity analysis excluding the two studies with the lowest individual incidence estimates and highest weights on the pooled estimates was conducted, with no significant corresponding decrease in heterogeneity [14, 21].

Table 3: Characteristics of included studies of lymphoma in IBD.

(a)

Author
Journal
Publication year
Study design
Study population
Region of origin
Number of sites
Study duration (yrs)
Person-years
Number of patients
Diagnosis
Mean age (yrs)
Female (%)
Mean disease duration (yrs)
Surgery (%)

Abbas et al. [40]
Am J Gastroenterol
2012
Cohort
National registry
United States
Countrywide
11.0
352,429
32,039
UC
60.0
7.0

Beaugerie et al. [41]
Lancet
2009
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
3.0
22,706  
10,899  
11,807
10,810  
5,153  
5,657
IBD 
CD 
UC

53.0

Bernstein et al. [24]
Cancer
2001
Case-control
Administrative claims
Canada
Regionwide
14.0
41,005  
21,340  
19,665
5,529  
2,857  
2,672
IBD 
CD 
UC
39.0 
36.3 
41.7
54.5 
59.0 
50.0

Chiorean et al. [42]
Dig Dis Sci
2011
Case-control
Referral center
United States
1
8.4
30,121  
19,127  
10,994
3,585  
2,277  
1,308
IBD 
CD 
UC

Farrell et al. [26]
Gut
2000
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
1
9.0
6,256
782
IBD
44.1
52.0
10.0

Fraser et al. [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
35.0
55,388  
20,494  
34,894
1,578  
584  
994
IBD 
CD 
UC
35.0
53.0

Herrinton et al. [43]
Am J Gastroenterol
2011
Cohort
Administrative claims
United States
Regionwide
13.0
67,867
16,023
IBD

53.0

Jess et al. [8]
Am J Gastroenterol
2013
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
1
32.0
33,843  
11,261  
22,582
2,211  
774  
1,437
IBD 
CD 
UC

53.0 
57.0 
49.0

Jess et al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35.0
6,569
374
CD

58.0

Jussila et al. [10]
Scand J Gastroenterol
2013
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
23.0
232,536 
51,876  
180,660
20,970  
4,983  
15,987
IBD 
CD 
UC

Khan et al. [44]
Gastroenterology
2013
Cohort
National registry
United States
Countrywide
10.0
199,046
36,891
UC
60.0
7.0

Lakatos et al. [45]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2012
Cohort
Provincial registry
Europe (Eastern)
7
31.0
19,293  
7,093  
12,830
1,420  
506  
914
IBD 
CD 
UC
32.5 
28.5 
36.5
48.8 
50.0 
47.6

22.8 
41.3 
4.2

Lewis et al. [46]
Gastroenterology
2001
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
9.0
64,239  
24,221  
40,018
16,996  
6,605  
10,391
IBD 
CD 
UC
47.3 
44.3 
50.3
54.0 
58.0 
50.0

Loftus Jr. et al. [47]
Am J Gastroenterol
2000
Cohort
Regional registry
United States
2
53.0
6,662  
3,150  
3,512
454  
216  
238
IBD 
CD 
UC

24.0
14.9

Mellemkjær et al. [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
16.0
22,875
2,645
CD

50.0

Mizushima et al. [21]
Digestion
2010
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
20.0
4,248
294
CD
39.0
30.6

Palli et al. [22]
Gastroenterology
2000
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
1
19.0
10,592  
2,716  
7,877
920  
231  
689
IBD 
CD 
UC

Pasternak et al. [34]
Am J Epidemiology
2013
Cohort
National registry
Europe (Western)
Countrywide
11.0
304,992
38,772
IBD
47.0
55.0

4.0

Van Domselaar et al. [48]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2010
Cohort
Referral center
Europe (Western)
1

8,563
911
IBD
53.0
28.6
4.8

Winther et al. [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004
Cohort
Regional registry
Europe (Western)
Regionwide
35.0
22,290
1,160
UC

53.4

Yano et al. [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013
Cohort
Referral center
Asia
1
25.0
10,552
770
CD
25.1
31.3
13.1

(b)

Author
Journal
Publication year
PSC (%)
Pancolitis (%)
Immunomodulator use (%)
Biologic use (%)
Observed number of lymphomas
Incidence rate (per 100,000 persons)
Standard error
95% CI lower bound
95% CI upper bound
Bias rating

Abbas et al. [40]
Am J Gastroenterol
2012

0.0
0.0
282
80.0
4.8
70.7
89.3
Moderate

Beaugerie et al. [41]
Lancet
2009

29.6 
13.0 
16.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
6 
3 
3
26.4 
27.5 
25.4
10.8 
15.9 
14.7
5.3 
−3.6 
−3.3
47.5 
58.6 
54.1
Moderate

Bernstein et al. [24]
Cancer
2001

0.0 
0.0 
0.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
16 
9 
7
39.0 
42.2 
35.6
9.8 
14.1 
13.5
19.9 
14.6 
9.2
58.1 
69.8 
62.0
Moderate

Chiorean et al. [42]
Dig Dis Sci
2011

8 
5 
3
26.6 
26.1 
27.3
9.4 
11.7 
15.8
8.2 
3.2 
−3.6
45.0 
49.0 
58.2
Moderate

Farrell et al. [26]
Gut
2000

26.0
30.0

4
64.0
32.0
1.3
126.7
Moderate

Fraser et al. [18]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2002

30.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
5 
1 
4
9.0 
4.87 
11.5
4.0 
4.9 
5.8
1.1 
−4.7 
0.2
16.9 
14.4 
22.8
Moderate

Herrinton et al. [43]
Am J Gastroenterol
2011

0.0
0.0
33
48.6
8.5
32.0
65.2
Moderate

Jess et al. [8]
Am J Gastroenterol
2013

26.7 
41.0 
19.0
27.2 
45.0 
18.0

15 
7 
8
44.3 
62.2 
35.4
11.4 
23.5 
12.5
21.9 
16.1 
10.9
66.7 
108.3 
59.9
Moderate

Jess et al. [39]
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2004

0
0.0

0.0
3.7
Moderate

Jussila et al. [10]
Scand J Gastroenterol
2013

72 
14 
58
31.0 
27.0 
32.1
3.7 
7.2 
4.2
23.8 
12.9 
23.8
38.2 
41.1 
40.4
Moderate

Khan et al. [44]
Gastroenterology
2013

0.0
0.0
119
60.0
5.5
49.2
70.8
Moderate

Lakatos et al. [45]
J Crohn’s Colitis
2012
2.3 
1.8 
2.7
30.2 
35.9 
24.4
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
0.0 
0.0 
0.0
3 
1 
2
15.5 
14.1 
15.6
8.9 
14.1 
11.0
−2.0 
−13.5 
−6.0
33.0 
41.7 
37.2
Moderate

Lewis et al. [46]
Gastroenterology
2001

9.5 
13.0 
6.0

18 
7 
11
28.0 
28.9 
27.5
6.6 
10.9 
8.3
15.1 
7.5 
11.2
40.9 
50.3 
43.8
Moderate

Loftus Jr. et al. [47]
Am J Gastroenterol
2000

1 
1 
0
15.0 
32.0 
0.0
15.0 
32.0 

−14.4 
−30.7 
0.0
44.4 
94.7 
3.7
Moderate

Mellemkjær et al. [33]
Cancer Causes Control
2000

4
17.5
8.8
0.4
34.7
Moderate

Mizushima et al. [21]
Digestion
2010

12.4

0
0.0

0.0
3.7
Moderate

Palli et al. [22]
Gastroenterology
2000

7 
1 
6
66.0 
36.8 
76.2
24.9 
36.8 
31.1
17.1 
−35.3 
15.2
114.9 
108.9 
137.2
Moderate

Pasternak et al. [34]
Am J Epidemiology
2013

0.0
0.0
46
15.1
2.2
10.7
19.5
Moderate

Van Domselaar et al. [48]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2010

7
81.7
30.9
21.2
142.2
Moderate

Winther et al. [19]
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
2004

54.0

2
17.9
12.7
−6.9
42.8
Moderate

Yano et al. [14]
J Gastroenterol Hepatol
2013

14.7

0
0.0

0.0
3.7
Moderate

Did not report separate incidence estimates for CD and UC.

Reported incidence rates of lymphoma in CD ranged from 0.0/100,000 py (95% CI 0.0–3.7/100,000) to 62.2/100,000 py (95% CI 16.1–108.3/100,000) (Table 3). For UC, the incidence rates ranged from 0.0/100,000 py (95% CI 0.0–3.7/100,000) to 76.2/100,000 py (95% CI 15.2–137.2/100,000) (Table 3). A pooled incidence rate of 0.6/100,000 py (95% CI −0.5–1.6/100,000) for CD was obtained. Substantial heterogeneity prevented pooling of estimates for UC (heterogeneity test, chi² = 199.5; ; ). A sensitivity analysis excluding the study with the largest impact on the pooled estimate in UC [47] decreased the heterogeneity (heterogeneity test, chi² = 44.79; ; ). However, substantial heterogeneity remained, and results for UC are presented as unpooled estimates (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Incidence of lymphoma in patients with Crohn’s Disease (CD). Each incidence estimate is presented followed by the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Each square in the plot indicates the point estimate of the incidence. The diamond represents the summary incidence from the pooled studies. Error bars depict the 95% CIs.

Incidence estimates stratified by publication year and region did not differ. Metaregression analysis revealed a statistically significant effect of age on lymphoma incidence in IBD. For each mean year increase in age, the incidence of lymphoma increased by approximately 2.1/100,000 py (95% CI 0.74–3.4/100,000), explaining approximately 65.8% of the between-study heterogeneity (adjusted ). No other covariate effects were found in metaregression analyses.

There was weak evidence of publication bias and/or small study effects in the IBD analysis () and in the UC analysis (). The number of included studies for CD is less than 10; thus analyses of funnel plots and Egger’s test are not recommended [52]. The overall quality of the lymphoma body of evidence, per the GRADE approach, is low due to the observational designs of available studies.

3.2. Discussion

This meta-analysis was performed in order to produce updated and reliable incidence rates for CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in IBD patients and in CD and UC separately. We aimed to quantify cancer incidence associated with underlying IBD, without the effects of immunomodulator and biologic pharmacotherapy, but this was difficult without reliable reporting of treatment information in the available studies. Although we could not pool estimates of the incidence of CRC in IBD and UC specifically, a pooled incidence rate of 53.3/100,000 py (95% CI 46.3–60.3/100,000) in CD was obtained. The estimated worldwide CRC incidence rate is 19.3/100,000 py [53]. In more developed regions of the world, which compares to the regions of origin of the included studies, the incidence rate is higher at 59.2/100,000 py [53]. As such, CRC incidence in CD does not appear to be higher than that of the general population in similar areas of origin. Of note, these incidence estimates are crude (not age-adjusted) and therefore may not reflect differences in the age of the underlying populations.

For leukemia, pooled incidence rates of 1.5/100,000 py (95% CI −0.06–3.0/100,000), 0.3/100,000 py (95% CI −1.0–1.6/100,000), and 13.0/100,000 py (95% CI 5.8–20.3/100,000) were obtained for IBD, CD, and UC, respectively. The estimated worldwide leukemia incidence is 5.0/100,000 py and 11.3/100,000 py in developed regions [53]. Thus, the incidence of leukemia in IBD and CD is lower than that of the general population in developed regions but is slightly higher in UC. For lymphoma, substantial heterogeneity prevented the pooling of estimates for IBD and UC; however a pooled incidence rate of 0.6/100,000 py (95% CI −0.4–2.1/100,000) in CD was obtained. Estimated worldwide lymphoma incidence is 6.4/100,000 py and 17.6/100,000 py in more developed areas [53]. Thus, the incidence of lymphoma in CD is lower than estimated both worldwide and in developed regions.

Due to incomplete reporting of use of immunomodulators and biologics in the published literature, we could not calculate incidence rates of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma specifically in persons not treated with these medications; however incidence estimates stratified by publication year before and after widespread use of these medications were not significantly different. This suggests that the impact of immunomodulators and biologics on the incidence of these cancers may be negligible. Metaregression did not reveal any significant subject- or study-level covariate effects in the majority of analyses, with the exception of the effect of mean age on the incidence of lymphoma in IBD. The power of these tests was limited by incomplete reporting of these variables and the small number of included studies.

The strength of the present study is the comprehensiveness of the literature search and evaluation of data for inclusion. Despite the exhaustiveness of the search, we could include only a small number of studies, limiting the power of the pooled analyses and ultimate confidence in incidence estimates. In addition, substantial heterogeneity prevented pooling of estimates in some cases. The heterogeneity of the included studies may reflect differences in follow-up time, cohort size, geographic differences in patient care, or other factors that we were unable to assess due to incomplete reporting in the published literature. Although these limitations may lead to bias in our incidence estimates, the direction of which is indeterminable, our estimates are based on the best available evidence.

4. Conclusions

This meta-analysis presents updated estimates of the incidence of CRC, leukemia, and lymphoma in adults with IBD. Overall, the incidence of these malignancies does not appear to be higher than in the general population. Further research is needed to explore patient characteristics that may modify the risk of malignancy. Specifically, we need large population based cohort studies in IBD patients that report complete demographic and outcome data. Detailed information on immunomodulator and biologic use is limited in the published literature, and if we are to be able to truly understand the potential increased risk of malignancy associated with IBD pharmacotherapy, this information is required.

Abbreviations

CRC: | Colorectal cancer
IBD: | Inflammatory bowel disease
PSC: | Primary sclerosing cholangitis
LD: | Lymphoproliferative disorders
CD: | Crohn’s Disease
UC: | Ulcerative colitis
CI: | Confidence interval
py: | Person-years.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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