Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Miikka Korja, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
- Second opponent: Senior Consultant Anette M. Storstein, University of Bergen, Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Bjørnar Hassel, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Stephan Røhrl, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Consultant neurosurgeon Markus K. H. Wiedmann, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that cancer prevention is the most cost-effective approach, estimating that 30-50% of cancers could be prevented globally. CNS tumors are particularly devastating due to limited treatment effectiveness, highlighting the importance of identifying modifiable risk factors for prevention.
Obesity and body height are recognized cancer risk factors. Obesity increases the risk of several cancers, including meningioma, while increased height has been linked to a higher risk of many cancers, including CNS tumors. However, the associations between these factors and specific CNS tumor subtypes remain inconsistent, requiring further research.
This study aimed to explore the associations between body mass index (BMI), height, metabolic factors, and lifestyle with CNS tumor risk. We used data from two major Norwegian health studies—the Statens Skjermbildeundersøkelse (SSU) and the Cohort of Norway (CONOR).
The first study, spanning several decades, found that increased height was linked to a higher risk of primary tumors of the spinal nervous system, particularly meningioma and glioma, while increased BMI showed no significant association. The second study examined lifestyle and metabolic factors. Higher physical activity and parity were linked to a lower risk of meningioma in women, while diabetes and glucose intolerance increased the risk. Metabolic syndrome itself was not significantly associated with meningioma or glioma risk, though multiple metabolic factors increased meningioma risk. Risk for glioma in women and men was not associated with lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use, and marital status, or metabolic factors.
In conclusion, this research underscores the complex relationships between anthropometric, metabolic, and lifestyle factors and CNS tumor risk. Further research is needed to clarify these associations and develop effective prevention strategies.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.