Lower circulating adiponectin is associated with higher risk of renal cell carcinoma: A meta-analysis

Changes in circulating adiponectin have been related to the risks of various cancers. However, the association between circulating adiponectin and the risk of renal cell carcinoma has not been fully determined. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between circulating adiponectin and renal cell carcinoma risk.

Observational studies that evaluated the association between circulating adiponectin and renal cell carcinoma risk were identified via a systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases. The difference between circulating adiponectin in renal cell carcinoma cases and healthy controls, and the multivariable adjusted association between circulating adiponectin and renal cell carcinoma risk were evaluated. A random effects model was used if significant heterogeneity existed; otherwise a fixed effects model was applied.

Eight case-control studies with 2624 renal cell carcinoma cases and 2904 healthy controls were included. Pooled results showed that circulating adiponectin was significantly lower in renal cell carcinoma cases than in healthy controls (mean difference = −1.08 ug/mL; 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.62, −0.54; P < 0.001). Higher circulating adiponectin was independently associated with a significantly lowered risk of renal cell carcinoma (adjusted odds ratio for 1 SD increment of adiponectin = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.96; P = 0.02). Subgroup analyses according to characteristics including study design, ethnics of participants, blood samples, numbers of participants, mean ages of participants, and study quality showed consistent results.

Lower circulating adiponectin is associated with increased risk of renal cell carcinoma. The potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the role of circulating adiponectin in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma deserve further investigation.