Sign in Subscribe
Cancer research

New Colon Cancer Findings from University of Leeds Reveal Strong Association with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Plasma ACE Levels

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from the University of Leeds has detailed new data in Oncology-Colon Cancer, pointing to a strong association between omega-3 fatty acids and plasma ACE levels with colorectal cancer risk. A Mendelian randomization analysis, which used genetic epidemiological methods to strengthen causal inference, found evidence for associations of genetically-proxied elevated omega-3 fatty acids and reduced plasma ACE levels with increased colorectal cancer risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers from the University of Leeds conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to evaluate the effect of previously reported therapeutic agents on colorectal cancer risk.
  • The study found evidence for associations of genetically-proxied elevated omega-3 fatty acids (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.03, 1.18; p=6.20x10-3) and reduced plasma ACE levels (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03, 1.13; p=9.36x10-4) with colorectal cancer risk.
  • The association between plasma ACE levels and colorectal cancer risk was robustly linked across sensitivity analyses.
  • The results suggest that elevated omega-3 fatty acids and reduced plasma ACE levels may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer.
  • The study was peer-reviewed and published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
  • Authors of the study include D. Timothy Bishop, Ella Fryer, Peter T. Campbell, Andrew T. Chan, Loic Le Marchand, Christopher I. Li, Victor Moreno, Marc J. Gunter, Amanda I. Phipps, Robert C. Grant, Stephanie L. Schmit, Richard M. Martin, James Yarmolinsky, and Philip Haycock.

Statistics:

  • The study found an effect size of 1.10 (95% CI 1.03, 1.18) for genetically-proxied elevated omega-3 fatty acids on colorectal cancer risk.
  • The study found an effect size of 1.08 (95% CI 1.03, 1.13) for reduced plasma ACE levels on colorectal cancer risk.
  • The study included a total of 78,473 cases and 107,143 controls from the colorectal cancer risk GWAS.
  • The analysis used summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of molecular traits.

Sources:

  • "Investigating the causal effect of potential therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer prevention: a Mendelian randomization analysis." Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2025.
  • NewsRx. New Colon Cancer Findings from University of Leeds Described (Investigating the causal effect of potential therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer prevention: a Mendelian randomization analysis). Cancer Weekly. October 28, 2025; p 1046.

Read more