# Association of gastroesophageal reflux disease with the incidence of multiple cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that gastroesophageal reflux disease is linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including lung, laryngeal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers.

## Contribution

The study is the first to systematically analyze the association between GERD and multiple cancer types using a meta-analysis of observational studies.

## Key findings

- GERD is significantly associated with increased risk of lung, laryngeal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers.
- No significant link was found between GERD and colorectal cancer.
- The findings suggest GERD patients may benefit from cancer prevention and early screening strategies.

## Abstract

To investigate whether gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with an increased incidence of multiple cancers through a robust meta-analysis.

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for observational studies published up to July 11, 2025. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.5.0.

A total of 17 studies were included. The pooled results indicated that GERD was significantly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.25–1.42), laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.38–2.21), pancreatic cancer (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12–1.50), and esophageal cancer (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.12–2.57). However, no significant association was found between GERD and colorectal cancer (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.63–1.72).

This meta-analysis suggests that GERD is associated with an increased incidence of multiple cancers. These findings will contribute to the clinical management of GERD patients, particularly in terms of cancer prevention and early screening.