Allergy-Related Diseases and Cancer: An Inverse Association

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a retrospective study that examines the association of cancer with a history of asthma, hay fever, hives, and other allergy-related diseases. This study is based on interview data collected from 13,665 cancer cases and 4,079 nonneoplastic controls who were admitted to Roswell Park Memorial Institute from 1957 to 1965. Although there is a general tendency for the age- and cigarette smoking-adjusted odds ratios associated with a history of asthma and hay fever to be less than 1, for both males and females, there is stronger evidence for a decreased risk of cancer associated with a history of hives and other allergy-related diseases. Decreased risks associated with a history of hives and other allergies are seen in males for oral cancer, cancers of the lung, larynx, digestive system, urinary system, and cancers of all sites combined and in females for cancers of the digestive system, reproductive system, in particular, cancer of the cervix, and cancers of all sites combined. None of the few odds ratios over 1 associated with a history of any allergy-related condition are statistically significant (alpha = 0.05). These findings suggest that individuals with allergy-related disorders may be at decreased risk of cancer, although reasons for cautious interpretation of the findings are emphasized. Prospective studies of carefully defined allergic disease cohorts are needed.

Allergies are associated with reduced pancreas cancer risk: A population‐based case–control study in Ontario, Canada

“…[13][14][15][16][17][18] Risk differed between men and women, and depended on the type of allergy and cancer site. [14][15][16]19 In a cohort study by Soderberg et al (2004), there was at least a doubling of risk of certain types of leukemia among individuals with hives. 18 A similar risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was noted in people with childhood eczema.…”

Cancer risk in hospitalised asthma patients

“…Thus, dysregulation of the immune function in conditions such as asthma could potentially lead to cancer development. Some earlier studies have evaluated the association between a history of asthma and cancer occurrence, but the results have been inconsistent (Alderson, 1974;Vena et al, 1985;Markowe et al, 1987;Reynolds and Kaplan, 1987;Kallen et al, 1993;Vesterinen et al, 1993;Ye et al, 2001;Boffett et al, 2002;Soderberg et al, 2006). Many earlier studies have been small in size and short in follow-up time.…”

Reduced incidence of cervical cancer in mothers of sons with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma or eczema

“…The age-and smoking-adjusted relative risk of cervical cancer associated with an allergy-related condition was 0.76 (p < 0.05). 20 Later studies of the association between cancer and allergies show differing results. Mills et al conclude that the association between allergy and cancer depends on type of allergy and varies between organ sites but is not significant for the cervix.…”

“…Vena et al investigate the association between allergy-related illnesses and cancer and report a decreased overall risk of cancer for allergic individuals but point out that there is variation between cancer sites. 20 Other studies confirm that the association is complicated and differs between organ sites as well as between types of allergy. [21][22][23] We hypothesize that inherited immunological factors influencing susceptibility to allergy also influence the ability to clear HPV infections.…”