ABO phenotypes and inflammation related predictors of lung cancer mortality

¹ The Copenhagen Male Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Clinic of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV Denmark
² The Copenhagen Male Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Clinic of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV Denmark; and Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: PS11{at}bbh.hosp.dk.

	Abstract

Inflammation and genetic susceptibility influence the risk of lung cancer. Previous studies suggest that the inflammatory response may depend on ABO phenotypes. We tested the hypothesis that the association with lung cancer mortality risk of lifestyle and occupational factors previously linked to inflammation would depend on ABO phenotype in a long-term follow up of 3, 346 men aged 53 to 74 years.

During 16 years, 170 subjects (5.1%) died from lung cancer; 84 men (5.9%) among phenotype O, 70 (4.9%) men among phenotype A, and 16 men (3.2%) among phenotypes B/AB. In addition to pack-years, significantly predictive of lung cancer mortality were, for phenotype O: high salt intake, long-term occupational dust exposure, high fat intake, and consumption of alcohol. After multivariable adjustment, hazard ratios (95% CI) associated with the first three of these factors were 2.31(1.40-3.83), 2.08(1.15-3.78), and 1.67(1.03-2.72), respectively. Compared to abstainers, hazard ratios for men drinking 1 to 10 beverages of wine/week and men drinking >10 beverages·week^-1 were 1.65(0.99-2.73) and 2.02(1.11-3.68), respectively. Among phenotype A, only pack-years of smoking were associated with lung cancer mortality risk.

The predictive role of inflammation related risk factors for lung cancer mortality was significantly stronger among men with phenotype O than A.