Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of allergies and the incidence of cancer are both increasing worldwide. It has been hypothesized that atopy may affect the risk of some cancers.MethodsIn this study, 1525 patients (754 women and 771 men with a mean age of 52.7 ± 11.9 years) with different types of cancer were examined for the presence of allergies. Allergies were confirmed based on retrospective analysis of allergy diagnostic procedures in patients previously diagnosed with cancer. All patients were also analyzed for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis according to relevant guidelines. A control group of patients without cancer diagnoses was used for comparison.ResultsPatients with cancer had significantly fewer IgE-mediated allergic diseases than the control population. For the oncological group compared to the non-cancer patients, the odds ratios (ORs) for allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma were 0.67 (95 % CI 0.52–0.81), 0.89 (95 % CI 0.78–0.99), and 1.03 (95 % CI 0.91–1.13), respectively. The mean serum concentrations of total IgE were significantly lower in the study population of patients with cancer than in the patients in the control group (45.98 ± 14.9 vs. 83.2 ± 40.1 IU/l; p < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the type of cancer diagnosed and the form of allergy.ConclusionOur results indicate that the overall incidence of allergies, particularly allergic rhinitis, was lower in patients with some types of cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Highlights
The prevalence of allergies and the incidence of cancer are both increasing worldwide
The odds ratio of a clinical manifestation of any allergy in patients diagnosed with the analyzed types of cancer was 0.76 compared to noncancer patients
The odds ratios for each type of allergy were 0.67 for allergic rhinitis, 0.89 for atopic dermatitis and 1.03 for bronchial asthma. This trend was independent of the type of analyzed cancer with the exception of breast cancer, for which the prevalence of all allergic diseases was the same as for the controls
Summary
The prevalence of allergies and the incidence of cancer are both increasing worldwide. It has been hypothesized that atopy may affect the risk of some cancers. The worldwide increased prevalence of cancer has impacted attempts to search for factors that may play roles in promoting or protecting against oncogenesis [1, 2]. The possibility of a promoting or protective role of allergy in cancer has been an interesting research topic over the years. There have been various hypotheses regarding the impact of IgE-mediated allergies and the occurrence of cancer [3]. One hypothesis proposed a protective function for atopies against cancer via immunosurveillance [5,6,7].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
