Researchers shedding light on why some face higher bowel cancer risk

March 10

A new research project funded by Cancer Council Western Australia will try and pinpoint why people with the blood disorder haemochromatosis are at higher risk of bowel cancer.

Haemochromatosis, an inherited blood disorder which causes dangerously high iron levels, affects approximately 1 in 200 Western Australians of northern European descent.

While patients with haemochromatosis are aware of their increased risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart failure and liver disease, the link to bowel cancer has only recently been made by another Australian study.

University of Western Australia researchers, partly funded by a $140,000 grant from the Cancer Council WA, will build on this new knowledge and focus on whether it is genetics or high iron levels in people with haemochromatosis that increases their risk of developing potentially deadly bowel cancer.

Men and women with hereditary haemochromatosis face a two to threefold increased risk of bowel cancer. Men may also be at higher risk because they men are more likely to develop iron overload than women.

Professor John Olynyk, one of the chief investigators on the project, said his team believed there was now sufficient evidence to recommend that haemochromatosis patients aged over 50 discuss bowel cancer screening with their doctor.

“We’re aiming to build a bank of evidence to determine where to go from here for this group of patients at risk,” said Professor Olynyk, “but rather than wait years for recommendations to develop we want to flag the issue now so patients and doctors can discuss screening as one way to reduce the cancer risk.”

Screening with colonoscopy is presently only recommended for those with a family history of bowel cancer, past history of polyps or cancer, or those with inflammatory bowel disease.

These new studies may influence screening recommendations to include people with haemochromatosis.

As part of the project, diet and lifestyle will be examined to see whether reducing iron intake, through eating less red meat, use of medication and giving blood regularly are measures that could lower the cancer risk.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in women in WA and the third most common cancer in men. In 2006, 1,080 Western Australians were diagnosed with bowel cancer and 400 died from the disease.
   
Cancer Council’s Director of Education and Research, Terry Slevin, supported the call for closer screening for those with haemochromatosis, particularly for those who hadn’t received or chose not to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).

Already more than 90,000 West Australians turning 50, 55 or 65 were screened last year as part of the free NBCSP.

“Being aware of your increased risk or being diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer can be a life saver,” said Mr Slevin.

“This research is important because it has the potential reduce the number individuals who are diagnosed with or die from bowel cancer in WA every year,” he said.

The bowel cancer research is part of $2.1 million in cancer research to be funded by Cancer Council Western Australia in 2009, including $1.4 million in new grants.

The recipients of the annual research grants were announced on Tuesday at a special lunch, sponsored by the Parmelia Hilton in Perth.

“Funding high quality research is a priority for the Cancer Council,” Mr Slevin said.

“It also helps provide us with a strong evidence base for the all important education and prevention work we undertake throughout the State.”