High sensitivity‑C‑reactive protein variability and risk of cancer incidence: A longitudinal prospective cohort study cancer

The association between inflammation and cancer has been extensively studied. However, studies examining the relationship between the magnitude of inflammatory fluctuations and cancer remain limited. Consequently, the present study aimed to explore the association between high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) variability and the occurrence of cancer. A total of 42,514 participants were enrolled in the present study, with their hs‑CRP levels measured over a 4‑year period. The coefficient of variation (CV) of hs‑CRP was used to quantify the variability in inflammatory status. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between hs‑CRP variability and cancer risk after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The results demonstrated that a high CV of hs‑CRP was significantly associated with reduced cancer risk [hazard ratio (HR), 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75‑0.94]. Participants with high hs‑CRP and low CV had a significantly increased risk of cancer (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18‑1.70). In the stratified analysis of tumors at different sites, the association between hs‑CRP variability and lung cancer risk was the most pronounced (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63‑0.96). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of the association between hs‑CRP variability and cancer. In conclusion, higher hs‑CRP variability was associated with lower cancer risk, particularly for lung cancer; however, these findings provide preliminary evidence and require validation in future studies.