Ted Shapero

2010 CDHF Community Research Grant
Contributing to Our Knowledge of Factors Influencing Rates of Colon Cancer

DR. THEODORE SHAPERO

I have had a longstanding interest in colorectal cancer, particularly screening and prevention. Over the past several years it has become evident to me that obesity, which is epidemic in western society, is one of the major hazards facing the health care system today.

Recently, it has been determined that obesity also increases risk for a variety of cancers, including colorectal. It has been suggested that for every 5 unit increase in body mass index (BMI), the risk of colorectal cancer increases by approximately 10% in females and a massive 24% in males. It has also been suggested that weight loss can reduce this risk.

I set out to design a simple study to evaluate the added risk of obesity for colorectal cancer in the population of Scarborough. Scarborough is an ethnically diverse community with a large component of immigrants prone to Metabolic Syndrome and populated with overweight and obese persons. The study observes the rates of colorectal cancer and colonic polyps and how these relate to weight and the elements of the Metabolic Syndrome.

In addition, we hope to be able to analyze the relationship of geographic origin to colon cancer risk by identifying immigrants’ homelands to determine whether place of birth and length of residence in Canada is a factor in colon cancer incidence.

This simple project requires resources for materials and personnel to enroll patients, collect and enter data and carry out statistical analysis. I am fortunate to be the first community (non-university affiliated) researcher in Canada to receive the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) Community Research Grant to fund the project. This funding will contribute to our knowledge of factors influencing rates of colon cancer.

My study will engage several community gastroenterologists and will clearly demonstrate that when we work together community physicians can efficiently and ethically produce first rate scientific contributions. The conclusions drawn can hopefully contribute to targeting at-risk subjects for colon examination and the formation of strategies for reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer and save lives in Canada.

Dr. Shapero is a medical graduate of the University of Toronto who completed fellowship specialty training in Internal Medicine (Toronto General Hospital) and Gastroenterology (Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal) in addition to a research fellowship in Hepatology, University of Southern California. Dr. Shapero has held leadership and clinical staff appointments in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and The Scarborough General Hospital. He was past Chief of Medicine, Scarborough General Hospital (95-99) and established the endoscopy units at both Sunnybrook and Scarborough General Hospitals (Director, Endoscopy Unit). He has been a member of several executive committees in hospital academic settings. He was a former Lecturer and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto and has published several articles in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Shapero currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Gastroenterologists since 2008 and actively collaborates on research with the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). He has also lectured extensively with a particular interest in colorectal cancer screening in the community and remains active in clinical gastroenterology.