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Cancer research

Serum Creatinine and Antioxidant Biomarkers Inversely Associated with Lung Cancer Risk in Men Smokers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with smoking being a significant risk factor. A recent study published in the journal Antioxidants has shed light on the relationship between serum creatinine, an endogenous antioxidant biomarker, and lung cancer risk in men smokers. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed data from 83,371 cancer-free men in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study II (KCPS II) cohort. During a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, 533 incident lung cancer cases were identified.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found an inverse association between serum creatinine and lung cancer risk in men smokers, with a single standard deviation increase in serum creatinine associated with a 21.3% reduction in lung cancer risk among former smokers (HR: 0.774, 95% CI: 0.620 to 0.967) and a 17.7% reduction in lung cancer risk among ever-smokers (HR: 0.823, 95% CI: 0.716 to 0.945).
  • Total bilirubin also showed significant inverse associations in former smokers (HR: 0.826, 95% CI: 0.705 to 0.967) and ever-smokers (HR: 0.785, 95% CI: 0.708 to 0.870).
  • Albumin was inversely associated only with ever-smokers (HR: 0.878, 95% CI: 0.807 to 0.955), while uric acid showed inverse associations with both former smokers (HR: 0.832, 95% CI: 0.699 to 0.989) and ever-smokers (HR: 0.847, 95% CI: 0.760 to 0.944).
  • The study concluded that none of the biomarkers showed significant associations among never-smokers.
  • Serum creatinine and other endogenous antioxidant biomarkers were inversely associated with lung cancer risk, particularly in individuals with a history of smoking exposure.

Statistics:

  • 83,371 cancer-free men were analyzed in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study II (KCPS II) cohort.
  • During a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, 533 incident lung cancer cases were identified.
  • A single standard deviation increase in serum creatinine was associated with a 21.3% reduction in lung cancer risk among former smokers.
  • A single standard deviation increase in serum creatinine was associated with a 17.7% reduction in lung cancer risk among ever-smokers.
  • Total bilirubin showed significant inverse associations in former smokers (HR: 0.826, 95% CI: 0.705 to 0.967) and ever-smokers (HR: 0.785, 95% CI: 0.708 to 0.870).

Sources:

  • Association Between Creatinine and Lung Cancer Risk in Men Smokers: A Comparative Analysis with Antioxidant Biomarkers from the KCPS-II Cohort. Antioxidants, 2025,14(5):584. (Antioxidants - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/antioxidants).
  • University of Ulsan College of Medicine Researchers Describe Recent Advances in Lung Cancer (Association Between Creatinine and Lung Cancer Risk in Men Smokers: A Comparative Analysis with Antioxidant Biomarkers from the KCPS-II Cohort). Health & Medicine Week. June 13, 2025; p 8113.

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