Using the UK Biobank, this study aims to examine how lipid metabolic traits, body fat distribution derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and genetic variation are associated with cancer risk and outcomes across multiple cancer types.
Conventional measures such as body mass index and routine blood lipids provide limited information on adiposity and metabolic heterogeneity. MRI-derived imaging phenotypes allow quantitative assessment of body fat distribution, including visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, which may be more informative for cancer-related metabolic risk. Genome-wide genetic data enable comprehensive evaluation of inherited susceptibility related to lipid metabolism and adiposity, and allow assessment of effect modification at the population level.
This research is observational and focuses on identifying population-level associations rather than investigating molecular or cellular mechanisms. Analyses will be conducted in a pan-cancer framework, with additional cancer-type-specific analyses performed where sample sizes permit. All analyses will use de-identified data in accordance with UK Biobank governance and data security requirements.
