Postcholecystectomy cholangiocarcinoma risk alert: evidence from Mendelian randomization study and bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have indicated a possible connection between cholecystectomy and digestive system malignancies. However, the precise relationship is still not fully understood. This study aimed to delineate the causal relationship between cholecystectomy and digestive system malignancy.

METHODS

The two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed based on published genome-wide association study data. This study used 5 approaches to investigate the association between cholecystectomy and the risk of esophageal, gastric, colon, rectal, pancreatic, liver, and bile duct cancers. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database was used to clarify the epidemiological characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, a bioinformatic analysis of related genes was performed to explore potential pathogenic mechanisms.

RESULTS

This study revealed a significant association between cholecystectomy and cholangiocarcinoma, with an increased risk observed (odds ratio, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.39-2.62]; P <.001). No significant associations were observed with other digestive system tumors. The sensitivity analysis did not identify any bias in the results. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma has consistently increased between 2000 and 2021. The Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of 10 key genes suggested that abnormalities in various metabolic pathways, including lipid transport, triglyceride metabolism, bile secretion, and cholesterol metabolism, may represent potential pathogenic mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

Our study establishes a foundation for understanding the relationship between cholecystectomy and malignant tumors of the digestive tract, suggesting that cholecystectomy may increase the risk of cholangiocarcinoma. This increased risk may be associated with physiological and structural changes in bile secretion and alterations in cholesterol metabolism.