The shape of the placental surface at birth and colorectal cancer in later life
Abstract
Objectives: Many chronic diseases, including certain cancers, may originate through variations in the supply of nutrients to the fetus. These variations change gene expression and permanently set the structure and function of the body, a process known as programming. Fetal nutrition depends on the mother's metabolism and nutritional reserves, and on the placenta's ability to transfer nutrients from mother to baby. In this study, we examine how colorectal cancer is related to maternal and placental characteristics. Methods: We ascertained 275 cases of colorectal cancer among the 20,431 people in the Helsinki Birth Cohort, who were born during 1924–1944 and whose body size at birth was recorded, together with the shape and size of the placenta. Results: Hazard ratios for colorectal cancer increased as the placental surface became longer and more oval. The hazard ratio was 2.3 (95% CI 1.2–4.7) among people in whom the difference between the length and breadth of the surface exceeded 6 cm, compared with those in whom there was no difference. Colorectal cancer was unrelated to other placental measurements or to body size at birth. Conclusion: An oval placental surface at birth is associated with later colorectal cancer. The shape of the placental surface is determined by events at around 8–12 weeks gestation. We speculate that, if the spiral arteries open prematurely, the surface becomes more oval and the fetus is at risk of oxidative damage at a time when the colon is differentiating. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:566–568, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Colorectal cancer was unrelated to other placental measurements or to body size at birth.
“Colorectal cancer was unrelated to other placental measurements or to body size at birth.”
From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [36]
In the combined Helsinki cohorts, the risk for colorectal cancer increased as the placental surface became longer and more oval.
“In the combined Helsinki cohorts, 275 had colorectal cancer (36).The risk for acquiring the disease increased as the placental surface became longer and more oval.”
From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [36]
Among people in whom the difference between the length and breadth of the placental surface exceeded 6 cm, the hazard ratio for colorectal cancer was 2.3 (95% CI 1.2-4.7) compared with those in whom there was no difference.
“Among people in whom the difference between the length and breadth of the surface exceeded 6 cm, the hazard ratio was 2.3 (95% CI 1.2-4.7)compared with those in whom there was no difference.”
From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [36]
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- Authors
- Barker, D. J. P., Osmond, C., Thornburg, K. L., Kajantie, E., & Eriksson, J. G.
- Affiliations
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- Southampton General Hospital (GB)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Barker, David J. P.
- Venue
- American Journal of Human Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-06-10
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 566-568
- ISSN
- 1042-0533 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-6300
- OpenAlex
- W1483170104
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 5.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Human Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- STM:n Hallinnonalan avoin julkaisuarkisto (Julkari) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- British Heart Foundation
- Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12011/4, MC_UU_12011/3)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Keywords
- colorectal cancer, fetal programming, fetal nutrition, maternal characteristics, spiral arteries, oxidative damage, gestational age
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Birth Weight, Body Weights and Measures, Female, Finland, Gestational Age, Humans, Male, Maternal Age, Middle Aged, Placenta, Pregnancy, Colorectal Neoplasms
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