Lung Cancer: The Role Of Risk Factors Depends On The ABO Blood Group

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Asbestos / Mesothelioma
Article Date: 27 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Tobacco smoking is the uncontested number one risk factor for lung cancer in men. Despite this, not all smokers develop this type of cancer. There may be several reasons for this, including genetics and lifestyle factors other than smoking. In addition to smoking, occupational exposure to inorganic dust and asbestos, dietary factors and alcohol intake have been linked to risk of lung cancer.

Previous studies suggest that the role of risk factors may depend on a person's ABO blood group. To investigate whether risk factors were more or less important for different ABO blood groups, Poul Suadicani (Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark) and his colleagues performed a study including more than 3,000 Copenhagen males aged 63±10 years. They were followed for 16 years. Blood group O and blood group A were equally frequent and comprised approximately 85% of the men. These two groups were compared.

Among men with blood group A, only smoking was identified as a major risk factor for lung cancer mortality. Among men with blood group O, although only one of 84 men who died due to lung cancer had never smoked in this group, several other factors were statistically significantly associated with lung cancer mortality: a self-reported high salt intake; high fat intake; long-term occupational exposure to dust; and high alcohol intake.

Title of the original article: "ABO phenotypes and inflammation-related predictors of lung cancer mortality: the Copenhagen Male Study - a 16-yr follow-up"

The European Respiratory Journal is the peer-reviewed scientific publication of the European Respiratory Society (more than 8,000 specialists in lung diseases and respiratory medicine in Europe, the United States and Australia).

European Respiratory Journal