Processed Meat Intake and Bladder Cancer Risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cohort

Background: The association between processed meat intake and bladder cancer risk has been evaluated by several observational studies with inconsistent results. Methods: In a cohort of 101,721 subjects in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, we analyzed the association of processed meat intake with bladder cancer risk. Results: After a median of 12.5 years of follow-up, 776 new cases of bladder cancer were identified. Intake of processed red meat was significantly associated with the incidence of bladder cancer after multivariate adjustment [highest vs. lowest quintile: HR, 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-1.93; P-trend =0.008]. In contrast, there was only a suggestive but not significant association between intake of total processed meat and bladder cancer risk after multivariable adjustment (highest vs. lowest quintile: HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.89-1.50; P-trend = 0.073). Conclusions: This large prospective study suggests that intake of processed red meat is associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer. Impact: Bladder cancer risk is increased with cumulative intake of processed red meat.