Risk of Gastric Cancer and Peptic Ulcers in Relation to ABO Blood Type: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Blood group A was found to be associated with gastric cancer in the 1950s. Strikingly, for peptic ulcers an increased risk has been shown for blood group O. However, previous investigations have generally been poorly conducted and have failed to take a unifying approach to these observations. Using the Scandinavian Donations and Transfusions (referred to as "SCANDAT") database, the authors established a cohort of Swedish and Danish blood donors with known blood type and followed these for the occurrence of gastric cancer and peptic ulcers through December 31, 2002. Cases were ascertained by using nationwide cancer and hospital registers. Altogether, 1,089,022 donors were followed for up to 35 years, during which 688 gastric cancer cases and 5,667 peptic ulcer cases accrued. Poisson regression analyses confirmed an increased risk of gastric cancer among individuals with blood group A (incidence rate ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.42) and conversely that peptic ulcer risk was instead highest among those with blood group O. In this large, population-based cohort study, the authors have confirmed the association between blood group A and gastric cancer. In addition, they give further support to the notion that individuals with blood group O have a higher risk of peptic ulcers than those with other blood groups.

Relationships between Skin Cancers and Blood Groups - Link between Non-melanomas and ABO/Rh Factors

“…In addition, a higher incidence of gastric cancer in individuals with 0 blood group was reported in another study (El Hajj et al, 2007;Edgren et al, 2010). Several studies also demonstrated that the incidence of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, ovarian, pancreatic, breast, vulvar and gastric cancer was higher in individuals with A blood group (Henderson et al, 1993;Su et al, 2001;Rolfe et al, 2002;Vadivelu et al, 2004;El Hajj et al, 2007;Edgren et al, 2010;Greer et al, 2010). There are also various studies indicating that the incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and malignant melanoma was higher in individuals with 0 blood group, while the incidence of endometrial cancer and advanced esophageal cancer was higher in individuals with AB blood group and the incidence of pancreatic cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma and cardial cancer was higher in individuals with B blood group (Karakousis 1986;Su et al, 2001;Alavi et al, 2006;El Hajj et al, 2007;Vincenzo et al, 2011).…”

“…Subsequent studies confirmed that the incidence of gastric cancer was higher (nearly 20%) in individuals with A blood group. In addition, a higher incidence of gastric cancer in individuals with 0 blood group was reported in another study (El Hajj et al, 2007;Edgren et al, 2010). Several studies also demonstrated that the incidence of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, ovarian, pancreatic, breast, vulvar and gastric cancer was higher in individuals with A blood group (Henderson et al, 1993;Su et al, 2001;Rolfe et al, 2002;Vadivelu et al, 2004;El Hajj et al, 2007;Edgren et al, 2010;Greer et al, 2010).…”

“…Therefore, it has been reported that genetic changes on the chromosome 9 may have an effect on the release of ABO blood group antigens. Several studies have shown that changes in the ABO/Lewis blood group antigens may be associated with the malignant transformation for some tumors (Aird et al, 1953;Jordan and Lynch, 1983;Rolfe et al, 2002;Adamian, 2005;Tursen et al, 2005;El Hajj et al, 2007;Hosoi, 2008;Edgren et al, 2010;Iodice et al, 2010).…”

ABO and Rh Blood Groups and Risk of Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

“…Likewise Iodice et al (2010) reported that O blood group was associated with a 47% risk reduction of pancreatic cancer but they didn't observe differences in the distribution of A versus non-A in patient with gastric cancer and CRC (Iodice et al, 2010). However population based cohort study of Edgren et al has confirmed the association between blood group A and gastric cancer (Edgren et al, 2010).…”

Lack of any Association between Blood Groups and Lung Cancer, Independent of Histology

“…After a follow up of 35 years, 688 newly diagnosed gastric cancer cases were detected. They have concluded that blood group A was associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer with an incident rate ratio of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.02-1.42) (Edgren et al, 2010).…”